HOUSTON -- A couple of missed opportunities by the Seattle Mariners led to a 2-1 loss to the Houston Astros on Monday.Lance McCullers struck out 10 in seven strong innings and George Springer homered for the second straight day to help Houston to the win.McCullers (4-2), who missed his previous turn with a blister on his right index finger, allowed five hits and one run while matching his season high for strikeouts. Luke Gregerson pitched a perfect eighth and Will Harris did the same in the ninth for his eighth save.The Mariners came up empty twice after having a runner on third with no outs.The first time came when Leonys Martin hit a leadoff triple before Seth Smith struck out. McCullers then struck out Robinson Cano, but the ball got away from catcher Jason Castro and Martin broke for home. McCullers covered and took the short toss from Castro to tag out Martin at the plate.But Martin didnt regret his decision.If given the opportunity, I would do it again, he said. Im not afraid.Springer got things going for the Astros with a double in the first before a single by Marwin Gonzalez. Carlos Correa drew a walk to load the bases with one out before the Astros took a 1-0 lead on a sacrifice fly by Luis Valbuena.Kyle Seager hit a ground-rule double with one out in the second and the Mariners tied it on the single by Lee. McCullers settled in after that, retiring the next 14 straight. He struck out eight in that span, including the side in the third.The Mariners didnt have another baserunner until Cano singled to start the seventh. A walk by Nelson Cruz followed and a single from Seager loaded the bases. Seattle missed another scoring opportunity when Lee grounded into a double play before McCullers retired Adam Lind to end the inning and his day.I thought we had them on the ropes there in the seventh inning, bases loaded and nobody out, Seattle manager Scott Servais said. Unfortunately, we didnt get it done. But McCullers had really good stuff. Probably one of the better breaking balls weve seen all year.Seattle starter Wade Miley (6-5) yielded seven hits and two runs in 6 2/3 innings for his third straight loss.Smith went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts, ending a streak of four straight games with a homer.There were two outs in the fifth when Springer launched his 19th home run to left-center field to make it 2-1.I tried to get a sinker down and away and cut it back over the plate, Miley said. I just made a mistake pitch and he did what hes supposed to do with it.Dae-Ho Lee had an RBI single for the Mariners, whose four-game winning streak was snapped.TRAINERS ROOMMariners: RHP Felix Hernandez will throw a simulated game Wednesday. Servais said Hernandez will throw 45 pitches. Hernandez has been on the DL with a strained right calf since June 1.FLIP AND PITCHFour-time defending national champion and three-time defending world all-around champion gymnast Simone Biles threw out the ceremonial first pitch. But it was far from an average throw. The 19-year-old, who is from nearby Spring, Texas, flipped toward the mound before launching a high throw to pitcher Scott Feldman. Biles was relieved that it went well and glad she didnt become part of a blooper reel.UP NEXTMariners: Taijuan Walker (4-6, 3.29 ERA) will start for Seattle on Tuesday. Walker is 2-0 with a 1.59 ERA and 23 strikeouts in his last four starts.Astros: Dallas Keuchel (5-9, 5.13 ERA) is scheduled to start Tuesday. Last years AL Cy Young Award winner, who has struggled this season, has won two straight games for the first time this year and is looking for his first win at home since April 15. Alexander Ovechkin Jersey . Blackwood, 28, has played the last three seasons in the San Diego Padres system, including the past two summers with Class AA San Antonio of the Texas League. Nicklas Backstrom Jersey . PAUL, Minn. http://www.cheapcapitalschinajerseys.com/ . Andreas Johnson had a goal and two assists while Jacob de la Rose also scored for Sweden (2-0-0). Esa Lindell and Rasmus Ristolainen replied for Finland (1-1-0) Lindell opened the scoring for Finland just 41 seconds into the game, but the hosts quickly regained their composure and tied the score less than four minutes later on Wennbergs first of the game. Yvon Labre Jersey .ca look back at each of the Top 10 stories of 2013. Today, we look back at Boston Strong - a citys recovery from tragedy. Braden Holtby Jersey . -- Timbers coach Caleb Porter didnt stray from his business-like approach to the season even after Portland downed the two-time defending league champion Los Angeles Galaxy to gain crucial playoff position.KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Eric Hosmer was looking to make amends for his error that led to two unearned runs. Hosmer hit two homer and Alcides Escobar drove in the winning run in the ninth to lift the Kansas City Royals to a 4-3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday night. After Hosmer failed to handle Adam Jones bouncer in the fourth, Matt Wieters hit a two-run two-out homer off Ervin Santana. "It stinks when you make an error and two batters later a guy hits a two-run homer," Hosmer said. "I wanted a chance to redeem myself." Both of Hosmers home runs were off left-hander Wei-Yen Chen. Hosmer is hitting .333 against left-handers. "I guess so," Hosmer said. "Thats what the numbers say." But he entered the game with only one home run in 104 at-bats off left-handers. Hosmer homered in the first and his two-run home run in the eighth tied the score at 3. It was Hosmers third career multi-homer game and his second this season. David Lough singled and scored the game-ending run when Escobar doubled off the fence in left-centre with one out in the ninth. "When I hit it, I thought there was a chance it was gone," Escobar said. "I wasnt trying to hit a home run." Instead, Nate McLouth nearly caught it at the wall. "I was about 3, 4, 5 inches away from catching it," McLouth said. "I didnt miss it by very much." Instead, the ball kicked away off the top padding, giving Lough enough time to score from first. Darren ODay (5-1) took the loss, while Luke Hochevar (3-1), picked up the victory after working a scoreless ninth. "I was trying to throw away and it got in," ODay said of Escobars first-pitch double "Nate gave it a good try." Chen, who went on the disabled list May 13 with a right oblique strain before returning July 10, departed after Hosmers second home run with Lorenzo Cain aboard with one out in the eighth. Chen gave up a home run to Hosmer on a full-count pitch in the first inning. Chen had not permitted a home run in his previous four starts. He retired the next 12 hitters after Hosmers first home run until Escobars single in the fifth. "He just made a couuple of mistakes and the ball ran back over the plate," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said.dddddddddddd"They were very similar pitches. He was really good. "He threw the ball really well. For us not to score much and still have the lead, thats a tribute to Santana and Chen, both. I thought Wei-Yin pitched as well as Santana did, or better." A bevy of scouts were in attendance to watch Santana. The right-hander can be a free agent after this season and it has been reported he would be dealt before the July 31 trading deadline without a player having to clear waivers. "Not at all," Santana said of the attention he pays to trade rumours. "If anything is going to happen, its going to happen no matter what." Santana gave up three runs, only one earned, on seven hits in eight innings to lower his ERA to 3.06, which ranks eighth in the American League. "Santana is a good pitcher," McLouth said. "That run in the eighth I thought was going to be big. He throws three pitches for strikes. His slider is one of the best. He keeps it low. Hes throwing in the low 90s and he doesnt walk anybody." The Orioles added a run in the eighth to take a 3-1 lead. Brian Roberts and McLouth led off with singles. After Manny Machado bunted them over, Santana walked Nick Markakis intentionally to load the bases. Roberts scored on Jones fielders choice grounder to shortstop. NOTES: LF Alex Gordon, a first-time All-Star Game selection this year, was not in the Royals lineup. He is hitting .201 with only four extra-base hits in his past 41 games. ... Utility player Elliot Johnson made his first outfield start of the season. ... The Orioles optioned DH-3B Danny Valencia, who was 0 for 22 since June 17, to Triple-A Norfolk to make roster space for RHP Francisco Rodriguez, who was acquired Tuesday from Milwaukee. ... Cain batted leadoff for only the fourth time this season. . The Orioles signed Cuban OF Dariel Alvarez, 24, to a minor league contract. He will report to the Orioles complex in Sarasota, Fla., before being assigned to Class-A Frederick. After defecting in 2012 to Mexico, Alvarez hit .317 for Tuxpan in the Mexican League. ' ' '