Yusei Kikuchi takes no-hit bid into 7th inning in Seattle Mariners’ 1-0 win over Houston Astros

Yusei Kikuchi took a no-hit bid into the the seventh inning, and Taylor Trammell homered and made a sliding game-ending catch, leading the Seattle Mariners over the Houston Astros 1-0 on Thursday to avoid a four-game series sweep.

Kikuchi (1-1) did not allow a hit until Carlos Correa doubled to deep right-center field with one out in the seventh.

“It was a full count so I decided to go and try to challenge him there,” Kikuchi said through a translator. “I thought a walk would be about the worst thing I could do there so I wanted to be aggressive.’‘

Correa was stranded when Yuli Gurriel grounded out to Kikuchi and Aledmys Diaz grounded out to shortstop.

“I go into every start with the mentality of trying not to allow the opposing team a single hit,’’ Kikuchi said. “Since it was a close ballgame, that really allowed me to get focused and locked in today.’‘