HOUSTON (Interstat) — Luke Raley homered and drove in three runs, Luis Castillo pitched effectively into the sixth inning and the Seattle Mariners defeated the Houston Astros 8-3 on Thursday afternoon at Daikin Park.

Raley’s three-run blast in the first inning gave Seattle a quick lead, and the Mariners never trailed. Castillo, who entered the game with a 0-4 record, allowed three earned runs on four hits over five and two‑thirds innings, striking out six. Domingo Gonzalez and Nick Davila combined for three and one‑third scoreless innings of relief, with Gonzalez allowing one hit and striking out two over two frames and Davila working one and one‑third hitless innings.

Mike Burrows, starting for Houston, took the loss, dropping to 2-5. He allowed seven earned runs on nine hits in four and two‑thirds innings. Cody Bolton pitched three and one‑third innings of relief, surrendering one earned run on three hits.

Seattle improved to 22-23 with the victory, while Houston fell to 17-28. The Mariners won for the second time in the four‑game series, having lost the opener Wednesday after winning the previous two.

The game began with Seattle’s attack in the top of the first. Brendan Donovan doubled sharply to right field. Following a flyout and a strikeout, Randy Arozarena walked. Raley then drove a 2-1 pitch over the wall in left-center field, scoring Donovan, Arozarena and himself for a 3-0 lead. J.P. Crawford popped out to end the inning, but the damage was done.

Houston answered in the bottom of the third. After two strikeouts, Yordan Alvarez crushed a solo home run to center field, his 14th of the season, cutting Seattle’s lead to 3-1.

Seattle responded in the fourth. Luke Raley lined out, but Crawford singled to right. Dominic Canzone lined out sharply, but Mitch Garver launched a two-run homer to left field, his first of the season, scoring Crawford and making it 5-1.

The Mariners added two more in the sixth. After consecutive groundouts, Canzone singled and Garver walked. Cole Young doubled to right field, driving in both Canzone and Garver, and advancing to third. Donovan grounded out to end the inning, but Seattle now led 7-1.

Houston fought back in the bottom of the sixth. Jose Altuve popped out. Alvarez singled to right. Isaac Paredes struck out. Christian Walker walked, putting runners at first and second. Braden Shewmake doubled to left field, scoring Alvarez and Walker, pulling the Astros to within 7-3. Brice Matthews grounded out to end the rally.

Seattle tacked on a final run in the eighth. Raley singled up the middle. Crawford doubled to center, scoring Raley for an 8-3 advantage. Canzone lined out, Garver flied out, Young walked and Donovan flied out, leaving Crawford stranded, but the lead was comfortable.

Houston mounted no further threat. The Astros put two runners on in the seventh but could not score. In the eighth, Alvarez doubled with one out, but Paredes struck out, Walker grounded out and Shewmake grounded out. In the ninth, Brice Matthews and Cam Smith grounded out before Cesar Salazar walked, but Zach Cole struck out looking to end the game.

Brendan Donovan had three hits, including a double and a triple, and scored once for Seattle. J.P. Crawford had two hits and an RBI. Cole Young drove in two runs with his double. For Houston, Yordan Alvarez went three for three with a home run, a double and a run batted in. Braden Shewmake had two hits and drove in two runs. Mitch Garver’s two-run homer was his first of the season.

Seattle collected 11 hits to Houston’s five. Mariners pitchers combined for 13 strikes, 50 balls and 13 balls in play, while Astros pitchers combined for 14 strikes, 65 balls and 14 balls in play.

The game lasted two hours and 56 minutes before a paid crowd of 24,398.

Raley’s first‑inning home run was the game’s defining moment. Prior to Thursday, Raley had been productive in the series, going two for three with a homer and an RBI in Wednesday’s 4-3 loss, one for three in Tuesday’s 10-2 win, and zero for two Monday.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Seattle Mariners 5, Houston Astros 4. Interstat’s ELO system gave Seattle a 55 percent probability of winning. Seattle was installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus 1.5 runs. The total score of 11 went under the over/under line of 9.5.