Astros–Mariners rivalry
| Teams | |
|---|---|
| First meeting | June 21, 2002 Enron Field Mariners 8, Astros 0 |
| Latest meeting | May 7, 2023 T-Mobile Park Mariners 3, Astros 1 |
| Next meeting | July 6, 2023 Minute Maid Park |
| Statistics | |
| Meetings total | 195 |
| Most wins | Astros |
| Regular season series | Astros, 119–73 (.620)[1] |
| Postseason results | Astros 3–0 |
| Largest victory | Astros: 15–1 (2021) Mariners: 14–1 (2019) |
| Longest win streak |
|
| Current win streak | Mariners, 1 |
| Post-season history | |
| |
The Astros–Mariners rivalry is a Major League Baseball (MLB) divisional rivalry played between the Houston Astros and the Seattle Mariners as both teams play in the American League West. The rivalry has recently grown prominence as both teams have returned to playoff contention during the 2020s. For multiple years, Seattle had failed to appear in the postseason between 2002 and 2021, however; they often competed handily against Houston for the division title, coming within 5 games of Houston's record for the previous 3 seasons. As of 2023, both teams have seen a large increase in animosity as both teams have aggressively competed for the division title, occasionally culminating in players being hit by pitches or full scale brawls between players.[2] Both teams met during the 2022 ALDS as Seattle managed to end their 19 year playoff drought and returned to the postseason, though Houston managed to win the series in a sweep.[3][4] The Astros lead the regular season series 119-73, including the postseason series 3-0.
History[edit]
Both the Astros and Mariners entered the league at different paths, the Astros were initially conceived into the MLB as a National League club, formed in 1962 as the Colt .45s. The Mariners were another expansion team, joining the American League in 1976 after the league's first attempt to create the Seattle Pilots saw the team deal with an inadequate stadium and extensive financial losses resulting in the team relocating to Milwaukee as the current Brewers franchise. Both teams would not play each other until interleague play would pit them against one another in 2002. The Mariners had seen numerous appearances in the postseason during the latter half of the 1990s and early 2000s, usually ending in a loss in the ALCS. The Astros had often struggled mightily to even make an appearance in the NLCS at all during the early 2000s, though they would make a World Series appearance in 2005 though they fell to the Chicago White Sox in a sweep. The Mariners continued to encounter playoff futility through the 2000s and 2010s as they often fell behind the other teams in the AL west, resulting in a missed opportunity to appear in the postseason.
Regular season matchups soon became a frequent occurrence in 2013 after the Astros were relocated to the American League. The two teams would begin to see a rise in competition particularly during the 2018 season.[5][6] Seattle had managed to hold the lead of the division going into September, they had shown much resilience towards the Astros as they would managed to win 8 of their 13 games against Houston, making them briefly appear as a shoe-in for the division winner. However; despite this, the Astros headed into September with a stronger approach, winning 19 of their final 25 games to end the season, stealing the division lead from the Mariners as they lost 12 of their final 25 games of the season. Worse still for the Mariners, the Oakland Athletics had managed to finish the season winning 16 of their final 25 games, stealing the 2nd place berth away from Seattle.[7]
On July 26, 2021, the Mariners hosted the Astros in the first matchup between the two teams that season. In the bottom of the eighth inning with two outs, Mariners' infielder Dylan Moore hit a grand slam off of Astros releiver Brooks Raley deep into left field, giving the Mariners the lead. Raley retaliated by throwing two inside pitches at shortstop J. P. Crawford before one pitch hit Crawford in the shoulder, putting him on base. Mariners' manager Scott Servais was infuriated with the gesture and began yelling at Astros' coach Omar López before officials separated the two. In response; the league suspended Raley for three games, with Dusty Baker receiving a one game suspension for his misconduct during the incident.[8]
The following season, during a game in Houston on July 7, 2022; Mariners' pitcher Robbie Ray threw an inside pitch at Astros' right fielder Kyle Tucker. During the next at-bat for Seattle, Astros' reliever Héctor Neris threw a pitch at Mariners' first baseman Ty France, prompting both benches to clear. Servais was enraged with the hit, charging at the Astros' dugout with multiple players. Umpires later ejected Servais from the game for his conduct. Meanwhile, Baker began screaming at Moore in the skirmish. The following at bat; Neris gave up a 2-run home run to Seattle outfielder Julio Rodríguez, culminating in Rodríguez taunting the Astros as he ran around the bases. After walking crawford, Neris in response, would throw a pitch at Mariners' third baseman Eugenio Suárez, hitting him in the back before umpires ejected Neris from the game. Baker began yelling at the Mariners dugout for the incident, leading umpires to eject him as well.[9][10][11] Despite the incidents, both teams would finish first and second in the AL West that year, giving the Mariners their first postseason appearance since 2001. Following a two game sweep of the Mariners during the 2022 American League Wild Card Series over the Toronto Blue Jays, they were set to face the Astros in the ALDS.[12] Though the matchups were often within 2 runs of each other, the Mariners were unable to overcome the Astros as they fell in a three game sweep.[13]
During the 2023 season, both teams started the year tied for third place in the division as the Astros were suffering the hangover of their World Series victory the season prior. Headed into May, both teams are tied 17-17 with a particularly strong showing of the Mariners opening their series 2-1 against the Astros in a heated contest.[14][15]
Postseason Series[edit]
Houston won the series, 3–0.
| Game | Date | Score | Location | Time | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | October 11 | Seattle Mariners – 7, Houston Astros – 8 | Minute Maid Park | 3:39 | 41,125[16] |
| 2 | October 13 | Seattle Mariners – 2, Houston Astros – 4 | Minute Maid Park | 3:15 | 41,774[17] |
| 3 | October 15 | Houston Astros – 1, Seattle Mariners – 0 (18) | T-Mobile Park | 6:22 | 47,690[18] |
References[edit]
- Inline citations
- ↑ "MLB : Series records : Seattle Mariners (H) against Houston Astros(A)".
- ↑ "Benches Clear Again: More bad blood between Mariners, Astros?". May 7, 2023.
- ↑ "Mariners and Astros don't like each other. Now they'll play for a spot in the ALCS". October 9, 2022.
- ↑ "Seattle Mariners Make History in Win Over Houston Astros on Saturday".
- ↑ "The AL West Is the Best Divisional Race in Baseball".
- ↑ "Astros Musings: The Biggest Rivals in 2017". January 31, 2017.
- ↑ "A brief history of the Mariners-Astros time". October 12, 2022.
- ↑ "Astros lefty Brooks Raley suspended three games, manager Dusty Baker one". July 31, 2021.
- ↑ "Benches clear in 9th, Servais tossed as Mariners beat Astros MLB Highlights". YouTube.
- ↑ "Mariners Astros FIGHT/BEEF Explained". YouTube.
- ↑ "Social Media's Reaction to Monday's Mariners/Astros Benches-Clearing Incident".
- ↑ "Seattle Mariners vs Houston Astros: ALDS Preview". October 11, 2022.
- ↑ "Mariners Breakdown: ALDS reaction, what's next, message to Astros". October 17, 2022.
- ↑ "'We've got to play a lot better': Astros being tested". MLB.com.
- ↑ "Mariners 3, Astros 1: Houston's bats struggle in dropping series finale". May 7, 2023.
- ↑ "Mariners 7, Astros 8 Final Score". MLB.com. October 11, 2022. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
- ↑ "Mariners 2, Astros 4 Final Score". MLB.com. October 13, 2022. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
- ↑ "Astros 1, Mariners 0 Final Score". MLB.com. October 15, 2022. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
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