SEATTLE -- It's getting to the point where the Astros are expecting to win each time Dallas Keuchel takes the mound. And they're starting to anticipate something special is going to happen each time George Springer steps in the batter's box.Keuchel won his fourth consecutive start by holding the Mariners to an unearned run in a four-hitter, and Springer launched his fourth homer in three games to send the Astros to a 4-1 win Sunday afternoon at Safeco Field. 
Springer hit a 1-2 pitch from Seattle starter Hisashi Iwakuma over the left-field wall with one out in the sixth inning to score Jose Altuve and put the Astros ahead, 2-1. Altuve had blooped a single into center field moments earlier.Altuve had two more hits, pushing his league-leading total to 70. He has recorded multiple hits in 12 of his last 15 games and has 22 multihit games for the season.Astros first baseman Marc Krauss added a two-run homer in the seventh inning to push the lead to 4-1.Springer's homer is the latest in an impressive power surge by the rookie, who hit a pair of two-run homers to lead the Astros to a 9-4 win Saturday. He has hit all seven of his home runs in the month of May to catch Matt Dominguez for the team lead.Springer also homered Wednesday in Anaheim before missing the first two games of the Seattle series Thursday and Friday with a strained hip flexor.Keuchel (6-2) is making a case for All-Star consideration by how well he's pitching. He threw a shutout May 13 against Texas and came within a strike of throwing another one Monday in Anaheim before he was pulled from the game in the ninth and charged with two runs.The only run Keuchel allowed Sunday came in the second inning, which began by him striking out Justin Smoak and Kyle Seager. Mike Zunino and Michael Saunders followed with hits to put runners at first and second, and Cole Gillespie hit a dribbler down the third-base line.Keuchel darted off the mound to field the ball and threw wildly past first base, allowing Zunino to score. Keuchel sent down the next 14 batters he faced, retiring the side in order in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings.Brian McTaggart / MLB.com
Springer hit a 1-2 pitch from Seattle starter Hisashi Iwakuma over the left-field wall with one out in the sixth inning to score Jose Altuve and put the Astros ahead, 2-1. Altuve had blooped a single into center field moments earlier.Altuve had two more hits, pushing his league-leading total to 70. He has recorded multiple hits in 12 of his last 15 games and has 22 multihit games for the season.Astros first baseman Marc Krauss added a two-run homer in the seventh inning to push the lead to 4-1.Springer's homer is the latest in an impressive power surge by the rookie, who hit a pair of two-run homers to lead the Astros to a 9-4 win Saturday. He has hit all seven of his home runs in the month of May to catch Matt Dominguez for the team lead.Springer also homered Wednesday in Anaheim before missing the first two games of the Seattle series Thursday and Friday with a strained hip flexor.Keuchel (6-2) is making a case for All-Star consideration by how well he's pitching. He threw a shutout May 13 against Texas and came within a strike of throwing another one Monday in Anaheim before he was pulled from the game in the ninth and charged with two runs.The only run Keuchel allowed Sunday came in the second inning, which began by him striking out Justin Smoak and Kyle Seager. Mike Zunino and Michael Saunders followed with hits to put runners at first and second, and Cole Gillespie hit a dribbler down the third-base line.Keuchel darted off the mound to field the ball and threw wildly past first base, allowing Zunino to score. Keuchel sent down the next 14 batters he faced, retiring the side in order in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings.Brian McTaggart / MLB.com
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