Mariners swept in ALDS after Peña HR lifts Astros to win in marathon

Seattle went 18 innings – you read that right, enough for an entire doubleheader – in Game 3 of the American League Division Series, but Houston rookie Jeremy Peña dashed their dreams of a second postseason game this year at T-Mobile Park with a solo homer that lifted the Astros to a 1-0 victory and series sweep (box score).

The game tied the record for longest in MLB postseason history and was only an inning short of the Seattle franchise record of 19 innings. It lasted six hours, 22 minutes.

Pitching dominated the deciding game, with the M’s pitching a shutout split between nine pitchers until Peña’s homer off Penn Murfee, who was in his second inning of work at the time.

Houston used eight pitchers itself for the combined shutout, with Luis García – typically a starter – earning the win in five innings of relief.

Despite the AL West-champion Astros’ sweep, all three games of the ALDS were tightly contested. The Mariners may have come up short, but they at least showed they can keep pace with a team now heading to its sixth straight AL Championship Series.

We will have more on the game on SeattleSports.com.