DAT 7/16: Astros 0 @ Mariners 1 Final

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Mariners right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma will try to snap a four-game losing streak against the Astros when he faces right-hander Lance McCullers on Saturday afternoon at Safeco Field.

Iwakuma has lost his last four decisions to the Astros (0-4, 7.50 in five starts), including two starts this season. But the 35-year-old has been Seattle's most consistent starter the past two months while Felix Hernandez has been on the DL, going 8-2 with a 4.15 ERA over his last 10 outings.

McCullers (4-3, 3.79 ERA), meanwhile, is coming off his shortest outing of the season in giving up three runs in four innings July 9 against Oakland, but has pitched well (3-1, 2.42 ERA) in four career starts against Seattle.

Manager Scott Servais says this is a big homestand with the Mariners facing the Astros and White Sox as they look to collect themselves after finishing the first half on a 17-26 stretch that followed a 28-18 opening to the season.

"I think so," Servais said of getting mentally rebooted. "Especially the first half and kind of the roller-coaster ride we were on, the way I looked at it, we survived it. We're still above water, we still have a chance here to do some things in the second half."

Things to know about this game:

• Astros infielder Marwin Gonzalez has hit .526 with two doubles and a home run in 19 plate appearances against Iwakuma and Jose Altuve has hit .438 with five doubles and a homer in 37 plate appearances.( )

• The Astros and Mariners ranked first and second in the Major Leagues in one-run games played in the first half of the season. The Astros were 17-15 in them, and the Mariners were 13-18.

• Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager extended his hitting streak to 14 games with a second-inning single in Friday's series opener.

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