Dein erstes Forum » ird quarter to push the lead up to 77-60.

SEATTLE -- Jose Altuve had two hits and an RBI and the Houston Astros damaged the Seattle Mariners post-season hopes with a 5-2 victory Wednesday. Altuve had a RBI double in the fifth and a single in the seventh for his league-leading 200th hit. He is the second Astros player to accomplish the feat, joining Craig Biggio -- who set the franchise record of 210 in 1998. Altuve leads the league in hitting at .337, hits and steals with 52. If he finishes as the leader in all three categories he would be the first to do that since Seattles Ichiro Suzuki in 2001. The Mariners, who lost two of three in the series, remained a half-game behind Detroit for the American Leagues second wild-card spot. The Tigers lost to AL Central rival Kansas City, 3-0. Oakland, which opens a three-game series at Safeco Field on Friday, holds a two-game advantage over the Mariners for the first wild-card spot. Nick Tropeano (1-0), making his major league debut, held the Mariners in check for his five innings. He allowed two runs and four hits, striking out five and walking none, and left with a 4-2 lead. Tony Sipp finished the ninth for his fourth save in five opportunities. Regular closer Chad Qualls has a nagging hip injury and was unavailable. The Astros chased Hisashi Iwakuma (14-7) after just 4 1-3 innings, his third shortest outing of the season. Iwakuma struggled with his control from the start. The best indicator was his one-out walk to Jon Singleton in the second inning. It was just his 15th walk issued in 161 2-3 innings this season. Matt Dominguez then popped out before three straight hits, by Alex Presley, Max Stassi and Jonathan Villar, produced three runs. In Iwakumas 24 previous starts, opponents had scored a combined three runs in the second inning. The Mariners responded in the bottom of the inning with two runs off Mike Zuninos one-out double. Altuve, the leagues leading hitter but hitless in 10 previous at-bats in the series, pushed it to 4-2 with his one-out RBI double to left in the fifth. After Iwakumas second walk -- his 16th of the season -- with one out in the fifth, he was lifted. He gave up four runs and six hits and struck out six. The Astros added a run in the eighth on Presleys two-out RBI single. He and Stassi each had two RBIs. UP NEXT The Mariners have their final off day of the season Thursday before their critical weekend series against Oakland. Lefty James Paxton (5-2, 1.87) opens the series Friday against right-hander Jason Hammel (2-5, 4.70). Houston also is off Thursday before its three-game weekend series at the Los Angeles Angels. Brett Oberholtzer (5-10, 4.38) will be matched up against C.J. Wilson (11-9, 4.64). SELIG AND NO. 42 Commissioner Bud Selig, retiring after this season, came through Seattle and spoke with the media before the game. Among his topics was the genesis for all the players wearing No. 42 on April 15 each season to honour Jackie Robinson breaking the Color Line on that date in 1947. "Commissioners are never supposed to have favourites," Selig began. "Let me tell you a story. I came back from a trip to Arizona and my phone was ringing. It was Ken Griffey Jr. And he apologized for calling me so late and he said, I know how you feel about Jackie Robinson. What would be wrong with all of us wearing No. 42? " Selig said he would think about it but didnt take long. The next morning he called Robinsons widow, Rachel, and told her Griffeys idea and she embraced it. So every year since 2004 every player wears No. 42 on April 15. The number also was retired throughout baseball in 1997. CLOSER TO THE END Even though Mariners closer Fernando Rodney has 44 saves in 47 opportunities and needs just two more to set the franchise record, he tends to be a final-inning roller coaster. Manager Lloyd McClendon says just enjoy the ride. "Im a believer that once you get to your closer in the ninth inning, youve done your job as a manager," McClendon said. "Its his game to win or lose. . If you asked if Id take Fernando Rodney out of the game, it would have to be dire straits." Dave Robinson Jersey . 3. Trevor Ariza left them talkin about 40. Ariza made eight 3-pointers and scored a career-high 40 points to help the Washington Wizards win their sixth straight game, 122-103 over Philadelphia on Saturday night. Jace Sternberger Youth Jersey . -- Maxence Parrot of Bromont, Que. http://www.shoptheofficialpackers.com/Elite-Aaron-Rodgers-Packers-Jersey/ . They showered him with "MVP! MVP!" chants. In many ways, it seemed like hed never been gone. Bart Starr Packers Jersey . -- Jake Paterson made 39 saves as the Saginaw Spirit halted the Guelph Storms seven-game win streak with a 6-3 victory on Sunday in Ontario Hockey League action. Ray Nitschke Jersey .com) - Semyon Varlamov more than earned his third shutout of the season as he made a career-high 54 saves to lift the Colorado Avalanche to a 2-0 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday.Andrew Ranger collected his 13th career pole in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1 in record fashion in Saturday qualifying for Sundays season opener. The pole position for the Pintys presents the Clarington 200 is the fourth in seven appearances at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park for the Roxton Pond, Que., driver. Ranger posted a lap of 1 minute, 22.956 seconds in his No. 27 Mopar/Exide Dodge around the 2.459-mile, 10-turn road course for an average speed of 106.712 to eclipse the previous series track record that J.R. Fitzpatrick established in this event a year ago. Fitzpatrick, who was fastest in practice, qualified second at 1:23.111 (1066.dddddddddddd513). Fitzpatrick is the series career pole leader with 14. Jeff Lapcevich qualified third at 1:23.237 (106.352), followed by Jason Hathaway and L.P. Dumoulin. Dumoulin swept the two races at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park road course last season. In addition to Ranger, Fitzpatrick and Lapcevich were also under the previous qualifying record of 1:23.286 that Fitzpatrick recorded on May 18, 2013. Peter Klutt, Robin Buck, rookies Luc Lesage and Marc-Antoine Camirand, and defending series champion Scott Steckly rounded out the top 10. The Pintys presents the Clarington 200 is scheduled to take the green flag Sunday at 1:30 p.m. ' ' '