Toro hits grand slam off Graveman, lifts Mariners to 4-0 win over Astros

Aug 31, 2021, 10:50 PM

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 31: Yusei Kikuchi #18 of the Seattle Mariners pitches against the Houston Astros during the first inning at T-Mobile Park on August 31, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 31: Abraham Toro #13 of the Seattle Mariners reacts after his grand slam home run during the eighth inning against the Houston Astros at T-Mobile Park on August 31, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 31: Abraham Toro #13 of the Seattle Mariners hits a grand slam home run during the eighth inning against the Houston Astros at T-Mobile Park on August 31, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 31: Abraham Toro #13 of the Seattle Mariners watches his grand slam home run during the eighth inning against the Houston Astros at T-Mobile Park on August 31, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 31: Abraham Toro #13 of the Seattle Mariners reacts after his grand slam home run with Ty France #23, Kyle Seager #15 and J.P. Crawford #3 during the eighth inning against the Houston Astros at T-Mobile Park on August 31, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 31: Paul Sewald #37 of the Seattle Mariners pitches in the eighth inning against the Houston Astros at T-Mobile Park on August 31, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 31: Paul Sewald #37 of the Seattle Mariners reacts during the eighth inning against the Houston Astros at T-Mobile Park on August 31, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 31: J.P. Crawford #3 of the Seattle Mariners gestures after hitting a single against the Houston Astros in the third inning at T-Mobile Park on August 31, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 31: J.P. Crawford #3 of the Seattle Mariners turns a double play over Alex Bregman #2 of the Houston Astros in the seventh inning at T-Mobile Park on August 31, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 31: Yusei Kikuchi #18 and J.P. Crawford #3 of the Seattle Mariners react during the seventh inning against the Houston Astros at T-Mobile Park on August 31, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 31: Jake Bauers #5 of the Seattle Mariners catches the ball for an out in the fourth inning against the Houston Astros at T-Mobile Park on August 31, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 31: Yusei Kikuchi #18 and Cal Raleigh #29 of the Seattle Mariners talk during the first inning against the Houston Astros at T-Mobile Park on August 31, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 31: Yusei Kikuchi #18 of the Seattle Mariners looks on after the out on Jose Altuve #27 of the Houston Astros in the first inning at T-Mobile Park on August 31, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 31: Yusei Kikuchi #18 of the Seattle Mariners tosses to first base for the out against Jose Altuve of the Houston Astros during the first inning at T-Mobile Park on August 31, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Associated Press

SEATTLE (AP) — Abraham Toro hit a grand slam against a player he was traded for last month, connecting in the eighth inning and sending the Seattle Mariners over the Houston Astros 4-0 on Tuesday night.

Mariners 4, Astros 0: Box Score

Toro’s homer came off former Mariners reliever Kendall Gravemen — they were both part of a four-player swap on July 27.

🕙🕙🕙 IT'S TORO TIME 🕙🕙🕙 pic.twitter.com/QG13d6UCpo

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) September 1, 2021

The Astros rallied Monday night against Joe Smith, who also was part of that trade, for a 4-3 win. Toro turned the tables the next night with his first career slam.

Graveman (5-1) walked J.P. Crawford to start his rugged return to T-Mobile Park. After striking out Mitch Haniger, he gave up a single to Kyle Seager and then hit Ty France to load the bases and bring up Toro in an at-bat loaded with meaning for the young player.

Toro responded with his third home run against the Astros since being dealt.

Yusei Kikuchi pitched seven sharp innings for Seattle, allowing four hits and striking out four. Paul Sewald (9-3) gave up a double to Jose Altuve in the eighth, but struck out three to get the win.

Houston starter Lance McCullers Jr. and relievers Luis Garcia and Blake Taylor had retired 10 straight going into the eighth.

Kikuchi pitched beyond the sixth inning for the first time since July 1. He helped himself with a seven-pitch fifth inning that included a strikeout. And an eight-pitch seventh inning included a double play after Alex Bregman’s leadoff single.

Kikuchi also outsprinted Yuli Gurriel to the first-base bag to complete a groundout and the inning in the sixth, stranding Carlos Correa at second.

Kikuchi had lost four of his previous five decisions, giving up seven runs to the Astros in their last meeting on Aug. 20.

McCullers Jr. gave up four hits over five innings with three strikeouts and three walks. He got out of bases-loaded jams in the first and fourth innings, but was pulled after 102 pitches.

OUCH

France set the Mariners’ franchise record when he was hit by a pitch for the 20th time this season. He was hit by Graveman, a former teammate.

VETERAN SIGNING

The Astros signed veteran catcher Drew Butera to a minor league contract and he’s expected to join Triple-A Sugar Land this week. Butera has played in parts of 12 major league seasons, most recently starting 12 games for the Los Angeles Angels in May. He spent most of the season with Triple-A Salt Lake.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Mariners: RHP Diego Castillo (right shoulder inflammation) is scheduled to make a rehab appearance at Triple-A Tacoma on Thursday, manager Scott Servais said. Castillo has been out since Aug. 20.