HOUSTON — In what amounted to a must-win game for the Seattle Mariners, Emerson Hancock delivered one of the best performances of his career and Brendan Donovan drove in three runs in an important bounce-back victory over the rival Houston Astros, 10-5, on Saturday night. Hancock allowed one run in the first inning and one more in the second inning but was dominant after that, retiring 17 of ...

Emerson Hancock of the Seattle Mariners pitches during the first inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, in Houston.

Alex Slitz/Getty Images North America/TNS

HOUSTON — In what amounted to a must-win game for the Seattle Mariners, Emerson Hancock delivered one of the best performances of his career and Brendan Donovan drove in three runs in an important bounce-back victory over the rival Houston Astros, 10-5, on Saturday night.

Hancock allowed one run in the first inning and one more in the second inning but was dominant after that, retiring 17 of the final 18 batters he faced. He finished with seven strong innings, scattering five hits with two walks.

One night after their most demoralizing loss of the season, the Mariners (58-66) beat the Astros (63-61) for the eighth time in 10 games this season.

Bryan Woo will start Sunday’s finale opposite Astros ace Hunter Brown for a chance to win the series.

Cole Young punctuated the night with a three-run home run in the top of the ninth inning, his 15th of the season, to give the Mariners their 15th hit of the game.

Victor Robles had an RBI triple during the Mariners’ four-run second inning, and rookie shortstop Brock Rodden, in his second major-league game, added an opposite-field double to drive in a run in the eighth.

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