Seattle Mariners slow Houston Astros’ playoff drive

SEATTLE – So … maybe the turnaround under new general manager Jerry Dipoto is already under way.

The Mariners broke a six-game skid Tuesday night when Shawn O’Malley flicked a two-run single into center with two outs in the eighth inning for a 6-4 victory over the Houston Astros at Safeco Field.

Tom Wilhelmsen (2-2) closed out his victory with a scoreless ninth inning.

The Mariners broke a 4-all tie by mounting a two-out rally in the eighth inning. Singles by Seth Smith and Mark Trumbo against Oliver Perez (0-3) and Pat Neshek put runners at first and third.

Neshek loaded the bases by walking Franklin Gutierrez, who managed to check his swing on a full-count slider.

O’Malley followed with his two-run single.

It was a costly loss for the Astros, who surrendered the lead, by one-half game, in the race for the A.L.’s final wild-card berth to the Angels.

The M’s trailed 4-2 in the sixth when Robinson Cano tied the game with a two-run homer. It was his 20th of the season.

He is the eighth second baseman to record six 20-homer seasons. The others are Jeff Kent (12), Dan Uggla (7), Craig Biggio (7), Joe Gordon (7), Rogers Hornsby (7), Bret Boone (6) and Ryne Sandberg (6).

Lefty swingman Vidal Nuno gave up three runs and six hits in five innings.

Nuno opened the game by yielding singles to Jose Altuve and George Springer, which put runners at first and third, but limited the damage to one run.

The M’s answered.

Marte led off with an infield single and went to third on Kyle Seager’s hustle double into the right-field corner.

Nelson Cruz tied the game with a sacrifice fly, and Seager went to third when left fielder Marwin Gonzalez airmailed a throw to the plate. That permitted Seager to score on Cano’s sacrifice fly.

Nuno held the 2-1 lead until he started the fifth inning by giving up a home run to Gonzalez.

It was Gonzalez’s 24th career homer. All have come with the bases empty.