Mariners ride hot streak into opener of series with Astros

A 5-2 home loss to the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday prevented Seattle from completing a three-game series sweep of a top contender in the National League, but it did not stem the tide of the Mariners' recent run of excellence. The Mariners, who begin a seven-game road trip on Friday against the Houston Astros, have won five consecutive series. Seattle is 7-3 over the past 10 games, and before Emerson Hancock scuffled for 3 2/3 innings in the series finale against Atlanta, the Mariners rotation set a club record with 18 consecutive starts allowing two or fewer earned runs.