HOUSTON -- He's not going to blow away the radar guns, leave hitters scrambling for cover or be mistaken for an up-and-coming power-armed prospect. But Hisashi Iwakuma has been Mr. Reliable for the Mariners over five years, and he started his sixth season in impressive fashion in Tuesday night's 2-1 loss to the Astros.
Throwing an array of off-speed pitches ranging from 69 mph curveballs to 80-83 mph cutters and a fastball topping out around 87, Iwakuma kept the Astros off-balance for six innings as he allowed just four hits and a pair of runs.