Toro slams old team, connects in 8th as M's beat Astros 4-0

SEATTLE (AP) — Abraham Toro hit a grand slam against a player he was traded for last month, connecting in the eighth inning and sending the Seattle Mariners over the Houston Astros 4-0 on Tuesday night.

Toro’s homer came off former Mariners reliever Kendall Gravemen — they were both part of a four-player swap on July 27.

The Astros rallied Monday night against Joe Smith, who also was part of that trade, for a 4-3 win. Toro turned the tables the next night with his first career slam.

“That was Major League Baseball in 2021 at its finest,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said.

Graveman (5-1) walked J.P. Crawford to start his rugged return to T-Mobile Park. After striking out Mitch Haniger, he gave up a single to Kyle Seager and then hit Ty France to load the bases and bring up Toro in an at-bat loaded with meaning for the young player.

Toro responded with his third home run against the Astros since being dealt. The second baseman said he had an inkling something big was coming.

“When the eighth inning started,” he said, “I said, ‘Hey, guys, I’m going to have a really big at-bat.'”

And that he did, but that's not the pitch Graveman wishes he had back.

“The walk and the HBP is really what led to the inning,” Graveman said. “... I think the hit by pitch was the bigger one. That was a mistake against Ty France.”

Houston starter Lance McCullers Jr. and relievers Luis Garcia and Blake Taylor had retired 10 straight going into the eighth. Five of the six runs Graveman has given up since joining the Astros have come against his former team.

“Even the best of them get hit sometimes and that was evident tonight,” Astros manager Dusty Baker said. “He's one of the best of the best, but he got beat.”

Yusei Kikuchi pitched seven sharp...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Toro-slams-old-team-connects-in-8th-as-M-s-beat-16427124.php