Seattle Mariners Sweep Astros, Gain AL West Lead with Record-Assisted Victory

The Seattle Mariners secured a pivotal 7-3 victory over the Houston Astros, completing a three-game sweep that extended their lead in the AL West to three games with six remaining. Key offensive highlights included J.P. Crawford's grand slam and Cal Raleigh's major league-leading 58th home run, which also set a new single-season Mariners record. This sweep has propelled the Mariners to 14 wins in their last 15 games, positioning them strongly for their first division title since 2001 and boosting their World Series odds significantly. Mariners' starter Logan Gilbert delivered a solid performance, allowing just one run over six innings, while Astros' Jason Alexander struggled, lasting only 1 1/3 innings. The Astros remain tied with Cleveland for the final AL wild-card spot but have been outplayed by the Mariners, especially with runners in scoring position where they went 2 for 20 in the series. The Mariners' recent roster improvements and dominant form have made them a serious contender in the postseason race.