Tough Loss for the Mariners Against the Astros 
It was a rough night for our Seattle Mariners as we faced the Houston Astros in a challenging game that ended with a 3-0 loss. Despite our best efforts, the Astros managed to keep us off the scoreboard.Early Defensive Struggles
The top of the 1st inning started with some hope as Jose Altuve struck out looking. However, a fielding error by J.P. Crawford allowed Alex Bregman to reach first. Thankfully, the damage was contained, and we ended the inning without any runs on the board.Offensive Opportunities Slipped Away
In the bottom half of the inning, we struggled to make contact. J.P. Crawford and Josh Rojas both struck out, and Julio RodrÃguez grounded out to end the inning. Unfortunately, this became a recurring theme throughout the game.Astros Strike in the 3rd
The top of the 3rd inning was where things started to unravel. A double by Trey Cabbage and a bunt single by Jose Altuve, coupled with a throwing error by Josh Rojas, allowed the Astros to score the first run. Yainer Diaz's single to right brought in two more runs, putting the Astros up 3-0.Missed Chances to Score 
We had our moments, especially in the bottom of the 3rd when Victor Robles and Josh Rojas got on base. Julio RodrÃguez walked, filling up the bases, but Cal Raleigh couldn't bring them home. The Astros’ defense and pitching were relentless, shutting us down at every chance.Pitching Performance
Our pitchers did a great job of keeping the Astros in check after the 3rd inning. The combined efforts of Saucedo, Snider, and others managed to hold the Astros scoreless for the rest of the game. Three strikeouts in the top of the 9th inning by Snider showcased our bullpen's potential.Final Push Falls Short
Unfortunately, in the bottom of the 9th inning, Josh Hader took the mound for the Astros and we couldn’t mount a comeback. Cal Raleigh, Mitch Garver, and Jorge Polanco were all quickly retired, leaving us scoreless.Looking Ahead 
Although it was a tough loss, there were some positive takeaways. The tight defense and strong bullpen performances give us something to build on. Let’s shake this one off and come back stronger in the next game. Go Mariners! 
Scoreboard for Astros @ Mariners (July 20th, 2024)
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0 |