Houston Astros Bats Wake Up With Five Home Runs, 22 Hits

The Houston Astros pounded Seattle Mariners pitching with 22 hits in five home runs to earn their first road victory of the 2013 season 16-9 over the Mariners at Safeco Field. The Astros snapped a six-game losing streak in which they had scored a total of nine runs.  They nearly doubled their run total of 17 from the first seven games of the season.  It’s the most runs and hits for the Astros since an 18-4 win over St. Louis on Aug. 3, 2010.

“It was only a matter of time,” said Bo Porter, who earned his first road win as a manager. “We’ve had confidence the whole time they can hit. It was unfortunate the games prior to tonight that we had not hit, but it was good to see.”

Jose Altuve went 4-for-6 with a homer and set a career high with four RBIs.  the Astros hit five home runs in with Chris Carter getting two and J.D. Martinez, Marwin Gonzalez and Altuve also hitting their first of the season.

The Astros scored six runs in the first inning.  Carlos Pena‘s bases-loaded double scored a pair to get the offense going. Martinez and Matt Dominguez added RBI singles, and Altuve’s two-run double made it 6-0.  Carter and Martinez  homered in the second and the rout was on. Brett Wallace  was the only Astros  starter without a hit, striking out four times. Wallace’s average dropped to .048.

Erik Bedard  allowed just one hit in four innings of work but did not qualify for the win. Bedard was on a 65 pitch limit.

We’re going to take this day like a wake-up day,” said Astros Altuve