Toro HR hours after trading sides, but Astros beat Mariners

SEATTLE (AP) — Abraham Toro homered for Seattle against the team that traded him across the diamond during batting practice, but the Houston Astros held off a ninth-inning rally to beat the Mariners 8-6 on Tuesday night.

The playoff-contending Mariners made two trades during the day. They sent relievers Kendall Graveman and Rafael Montero to AL West-leading Houston for Toro and reliever Joe Smith, and later got starter Tyler Anderson from Pittsburgh for two minor leaguers.

Toro was taking his pregame swings for Houston when he learned about the deal. The infielder walked to the other dugout, put on his new uniform and went back to the batting cage.

Toro had a two-run, pinch-hit homer in the ninth that bounced off right fielder Kyle Tucker's glove and into the stands. The shot came off Astros closer Ryan Pressly a day after Toro homered against the Mariners. His seventh homer — he has hit one in three straight games — drew the Mariners within two runs and they put two on with one out before Pressly escaped.

“When I hit it I knew I hit it good, but I thought it was a little too high honestly,” Toro said. “After (Tucker) jumped, I was pretty excited, obviously.”

Seattle had won four in a row, including an 11-8 victory over the Astros on Monday night when it rallied from a 7-0 deficit.

Smith threw one hitless inning for the Mariners. Graveman and Montero didn't pitch.

“It was strange,” Houston manager Dusty Baker said of watching his former players. “You find yourself not really pulling against them because you’re used to pulling for them.”

Aledmys Diaz said it was weird facing off against Smith in the seventh. Smith came with his game face and got him with a slider at one point.

“I love that guy. ... I said, ‘Good pitch...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Toro-HR-hours-after-trading-sides-but-Astros-16344869.php