SEATTLE -- These are the kinds of games that make the Astros believe they have something special in Jonathan Villar.Villar, whose mental lapses have kept him from establishing himself in the big leagues, made a pair of terrific defensive plays at shortstop and went 2-for-4, driving in the go-ahead run with a single in the ninth inning to send the Astros to a 2-1 win over the Mariners on Tuesday night at Safeco Field. 
Starting pitcher Collin McHugh, who introduced himself to Astros fans in grand fashion at Safeco Field nearly five months ago by striking out 12 in 6 2/3 scoreless innings, held the Mariners to two hits and one run in eight innings to win for the fifth time in six starts.McHugh (9-9) is 5-0 with a 1.69 ERA in his past eight starts. He was working on a one-hit shutout before Logan Morrison hit a no-doubt homer to right with one out in the eighth inning to tie the game. The Astros took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning when Jon Singleton ripped a two-out double off the top of the right-field wall to score Jake Marisnick from first base. The umpires initiated a crew-chief challenge to determine whether it was a home run, but the double was confirmed.The Astros had a run taken off the board in the sixth following an overturned call. Singleton was initially called safe at first base for an infield hit, with Chris Carter scoring from second, but replay showed the foot of pitcher Roenis Elias touched the base a hair before Singleton for the third out.McHugh sent down the first nine batters he faced before Austin Jackson beat out an infield hit despite a terrific diving effort from Villar, whose throw to first was a tad late. The only other batter to reach was the result of a fielding error by Jose Altuve, who botched a grounder off the bat of Kendrys Morales while playing in shallow right field during a shift.Villar, called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City last week, went into the hole in the sixth and made a long throw to rob Jackson of a hit, and capped the eighth by making a diving stop on the right side of second base and throwing out Michael Saunders.Brian McTaggart / MLB.com
Starting pitcher Collin McHugh, who introduced himself to Astros fans in grand fashion at Safeco Field nearly five months ago by striking out 12 in 6 2/3 scoreless innings, held the Mariners to two hits and one run in eight innings to win for the fifth time in six starts.McHugh (9-9) is 5-0 with a 1.69 ERA in his past eight starts. He was working on a one-hit shutout before Logan Morrison hit a no-doubt homer to right with one out in the eighth inning to tie the game. The Astros took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning when Jon Singleton ripped a two-out double off the top of the right-field wall to score Jake Marisnick from first base. The umpires initiated a crew-chief challenge to determine whether it was a home run, but the double was confirmed.The Astros had a run taken off the board in the sixth following an overturned call. Singleton was initially called safe at first base for an infield hit, with Chris Carter scoring from second, but replay showed the foot of pitcher Roenis Elias touched the base a hair before Singleton for the third out.McHugh sent down the first nine batters he faced before Austin Jackson beat out an infield hit despite a terrific diving effort from Villar, whose throw to first was a tad late. The only other batter to reach was the result of a fielding error by Jose Altuve, who botched a grounder off the bat of Kendrys Morales while playing in shallow right field during a shift.Villar, called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City last week, went into the hole in the sixth and made a long throw to rob Jackson of a hit, and capped the eighth by making a diving stop on the right side of second base and throwing out Michael Saunders.Brian McTaggart / MLB.com
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