Cano homers twice in Mariners Win

Seattle Mariners' Robinson Cano, left, celebrates his solo home run off of Houston Astros starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel with Leonys Martin in the third inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Saturday, May 7, 2016, in Houston. ( Photo: Eric Christian Smith, AP)

2B Robinson Cano hit two home runs as the Seattle Mariners (18-12) win at the Houston Astros (11-20) 3-2.

The Mariners needed extra innings to beat their division rival in game three of their four-game series. Houston’s manager A.J. Hinch and CF Carlos Gomez were ejected late in the game, presumably for arguing balls and strikes.

Seattle took an early lead with solo home runs from 3B Kyle Seager and Robinson Cano in the second and third innings.

The Astros cut the lead to one in the bottom of the sixth. With one out 2B Marwin Gonzalez reached first base on a bunt-single. He went on to steal second base and advanced to third base on a single by SS Carlos Correa. Marwin Gonzalez eventually crossed home plate when LF Colby Rasmus drove him in with an RBI-double.

3B Luis Valbuena tied the game with a leadoff home run in the ninth inning. It was Valbuena’s first long ball of the season.

Robinson Cano’s second homer of the day to lead off the 10th inning turned out to be the game-winning run for the Mariners. It was the 11th home run of the season for Cano, who finished the game with 4 hits in 5 at-bats. He is batting .306 this year with 19 runs, 11 HR and 32 RBI.

Seattle’s SP Nathan Karns pitched 6.1 innings, giving up 6 hits, 2 walks and 1 earned run while striking out 9. He has a 3.38 ERA with a 1.33 WHIP.

Cy Young winner SP Dallas Keuchel pitched 7 innings, allowing 8 hits, 1 walk and 2 earned runs while fanning 8. His ERA and WHIP improved to 4.70 and 1.52, respectively.