Astros defeat Mariners, Mariners also defeat Mariners, lose to Astros 3-5

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY SportsHow many more times can we say this? The Astros outmaneuvered the Mariners tonight, as the Mariners came apart at the seams in the seventh inning, allowing a precious lead to evaporate into the Houston night, and with it, some degree of hope of winning the series. Looking much more the nightmare Astros of recent vintage than these early-season Lastros, the Mariners and Astros slugged it out in a pitching duel tonight until some key mistakes from the Mariners snowballed into a disastrous seventh inning, eventually leading to a loss.

Things didn’t start off so grim. The Mariners actually drew first blood, in the third inning. After striking him out looking on a…