Die Serie » F T.J. Warren (illness) missed his second straight ga

SEATTLE -- The Houston Astros still have time to atone for their September collapse last season, and they took a big step in the right direction Friday night. The 6-0 win over Seattle and ace pitcher Felix Hernandez moved the Astros (77-71) one game closer to the Mariners, Tigers and Yankees in the American League wild-card standings.The barely-breathing Astros can take push themselves further into the crowded group of contenders with a victory Saturday, which would not only win the series but would also put Houston in a tie with Seattle among the teams chasing Baltimore and Toronto for the two wild-card spots.The Astros will turn to Mike Fiers (10-7) in the second game of the three-game series with the Mariners on Saturday night. Fiers is coming off his shortest outing of the season, having allowed seven runs in just 2 1/3 innings of a 9-5 loss to the Cubs last Sunday.Big games like this, Fiers said after that performance, I need to lock it in and play better than I did.Hell get another shot Saturday night, although Fiers has a pretty tough act to follow. Friday starter Collin McHugh shut out the Mariners for seven innings, allowing just two hits, as Houston kept its chances of a second consecutive wild-card berth alive. McHugh has now beaten Seattle in all four of his starts against the Mariners this season.We just match up pretty well with them -- me, specifically, McHugh said after dropping his season ERA against Seattle to 1.36 this season. Whether its pitch mix or this venue, Ive been able to have some success against them.Seattles Hernandez had quite the opposite kind of night. Having never pitched in a postseason game, Hernandez was in the rare position of taking the mound for a meaningful September game at Safeco Field and fell flat.He certainly was not on top of his game tonight, manager Scott Servais said after Fridays loss, which snapped an eight-game losing streak and dropped Seattle to three games behind co-wild-card leaders Toronto and Baltimore with just 15 games remaining.The Mariners (78-69) are hoping for better results from Saturday starter James Paxton, a 27-year-old left-hander who can be dominant but can also be frustratingly inconsistent. Paxton turned in his best outing of the season on Aug. 7, when he looked to be on his way to a complete-game win over the Angels before taking a line drive off his left elbow one out into the ninth. He returned to the mound three weeks later but hasnt been nearly as dominant; hes still looking for his first win of September.Neither team can afford a loss as the remaining games dwindle and the distance separating them from the Blue Jays and Orioles looks harder and harder to overcome. Houston did the early damage but might need a sweep just to stay in realistic contention, while Seattle cant afford to lose again Saturday.Weve still got a lot of baseball left to play, Servais said. Were still in a very competitive spot. But (Fridays performance) is not what you wanted to see.For the Astros, the momentum of a Friday win could set the tone for this series and beyond.When youre going into a little bit of a playoff push like this, having the experience of last year, and knowing what it takes, I think that can be a little bit of an advantage for us, Houstons McHugh said. Vapormax Saldi . Louis Blues absence from top spot in the TSN. Vapormax Uomo 2020 . During the athletes parade, the 23-strong Ukrainian team was represented by a lone flagbearer in an apparent protest at the presence of Russian troops in Ukraines Crimean peninsula. http://www.vapormaxscontateoutlet.it/vapormax-nere-scontate-outlet.html . The showiest items on Calgarys lot were forwards Mike Cammalleri and Lee Stempniak. Both will be unrestricted free agents this summer. Vapormax Plus Saldi . The Americans, skipped by John Shuster, seized the advantage in the eighth end by scoring five points for a 7-3 lead. The Czechs pulled two back in the ninth, but Shusters team of third Jeff Isaacson, second Jared Zezel and lead John Landsteiner ended with another point to secure the last Olympic berth on offer. Vapormax Bianche In Offerta . "It was nerve-wracking, but we pulled through," said Collaros, who threw four touchdown passes to lead the Toronto Argonauts (8-4) to a 33-27 win over the Calgary Stampeders (9-3) in front of 28,781 fans at McMahon Stadium. WASHINGTON -- Scott Brooks is still getting to know Bradley Beal and the rest of the Washington Wizards. The teams new coach likes what he sees out of his shooting guard.In the last two games, Beal has scored 76 points -- and 30 or more in consecutive games for the first time in his five-year career.Beal had a career-high 42 points and John Wall shook off an awful shooting night with seven key points down the stretch as the Wizards beat the Phoenix Suns 106-101 on Monday night.Beal, who scored 34 points in Saturdays loss to Miami, had nine in the first quarter, seven in the second, 12 in the third and 14 in the fourth. He shot 14 for 22 and hit five of his 10 3-point attempts.He can be one of the best two-way players in the league, and my job is to continue to push him to strive for greatness, Brooks said.It takes a lot of energy. It takes a lot of inner drive and determination, but I think he has the ability to be that player.Beal said hes simplified his approach.Not thinking, not worrying about if I miss or if I make it. I just have the same mentality that its on to the next shot. That shots over, Beal said.Devin Booker had 30 points and Eric Bledsoe scored 29 for Phoenix (4-11), which has lost five of six. Booker and Bledsoe scored 18 of the teams 21 points in the fourth quarter.The Wizards improved to 4-10. All four of their wins have come at home.BEST FOR LASTWall, who also scored 34 points on Saturday, finished with 18 this time. He shot just 6 for 24 but converted a three-point play with 1:08 remaining to give Washington a 102-101 lead. Wall added a jumper with 38.11 seconds to go and two free throws with 21.dddddddddddd2 seconds left.I think I just impacted the game other ways, he said.Wall had a season-high 15 assists and added three blocked shots.ON GUARDThe Suns were impressed with Beals performance.I didnt defend him, so I dont know what was so tough, but he played really determined tonight, coach Earl Watson said.Beal and Wall combined to score 23 of the Wizards 31 fourth-quarter points.You need to shut them down, make somebody else do it, and we didnt do that today, Booker said.TIP-INSSuns: F T.J. Warren (illness) missed his second straight game. C Tyson Chandler (personal reasons) sat out for the third consecutive game. ... G Leandro Barbosa became the 11th player in franchise history to appear in 500 games.Wizards: Recalled F Danuel House Jr. from Delaware of the D-League. ... Brooks said C Ian Mahinmi, who has yet to play this season due to knee surgery, is progressing well. Brooks wasnt sure, however, when Mahinmi will be ready to play. I like what he did yesterday in practice. He really moved very well. Obviously, hes a little rusty and conditioning is going to be a factor early on, Brooks said.PORTER HURTWashingtons Otto Porter left with about 7 minutes to play in the third quarter and did not return. Porter, who finished with nine points, was diagnosed with inflammation in his right hip. Brooks said Porter was day to day.UP NEXTSuns: Visit Orlando on Wednesday.Wizards: Visit Orlando on Friday. ' ' '