Pirate Galaxy » . The build-up started explosively with Jed

SEATTLE -- After losing his first two starts against Houston this season, Seattles Hisashi Iwakuma got the better of the Astros on Saturday with one of his best performances of the season.Iwakuma limited Houston to two hits in seven innings, Robinson Cano provided the only scoring with a RBI single in the sixth and the Mariners beat the Astros 1-0.It was payback time, Iwakuma said through an interpreter. They got me pretty good the last couple starts. We just knew we had to change our game plan.Iwakuma (10-6) won his fourth straight start to become the first Seattle pitcher to reach double-digit wins. He struck out eight and walked one as the Mariners snapped a five-game losing streak against Houston.Cant say enough about our pitching today, Seattle manager Scott Servais said. I thought Iwakuma was awesome. Back and forth, really good command of all of his pitches. He elevated late in some counts, really expanded the strike zone against a really good team. Outstanding job by Kuma.In the sixth, Leonys Martin led off with a triple -- his second extra-base hit of the game -- and Cano followed with the single to left.Houston starter Lance McCullers (4-4) was strong through the first five innings, allowing two hits and striking out five before giving up the run in the sixth. He struck out eight and walked four in 5 1/3 innings.We know he is a great pitcher, Iwakuma said of McCullers. He had pitched well against us the last time we were in Houston, so we knew it was going to be a tight ballgame. You have to be patient. Wait for that run and hope not to give up the first one, and I didnt.Iwakuma allowed only a double by Jose Altuve with two outs in the first and a double by Carlos Correa in the seventh. In his last six starts, Iwakuma has pitched at least seven innings and is 5-1 during the stretch.Correa reached third, advancing to second on a groundout following his one-out double. But Iwakuma got Colby Rasmus to ground out to Cano to end the inning.Edwin Diaz replaced Iwakuma and left a runner stranded in the eighth. Steve Cishek pitched the ninth for his 22th save of the season.Marwin Gonzalez led off the ninth with a double but was caught in a rundown on Altuves sacrifice bunt attempt. Altuve made it to second on the play and stole third with Correa at the plate, but Cishek struck out Correa and Luis Valbuena to end the game.At the start of the inning when you have Marwin leading off and then into the middle of our order, we felt pretty good, Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. But you know obviously we couldnt scratch across a run at any point in the game, even in the ninth.RBI CLUBCano recorded his 20th RBI of the season against the Astros with his go-ahead single in the sixth, becoming just the sixth player in Mariners history to drive in 20 or more runs against a single team.TRAINERS ROOMAstros: OF Colby Rasmus returned to the lineup Saturday and started in left field after missing the last five games with an ear infection.Mariners: Nelson Cruz was scratched from the lineup Saturday with a sore foot after fouling a ball off it Friday and is day-to-day. RHP Felix Hernandez made a rehab start Friday in Tacoma and will start for the Mariners when they face the Pirates on Wednesday.UP NEXTAstros: RHP Colin McHugh (5-6, 4.50) will make his 19th start of the season in the series finale. McHugh has allowed three earned runs or fewer in five straight starts.Mariners: LHP Mike Montgomery (3-3, 2.06) will make his second start of the season. In his first start, Montgomery allowed one run and five hits in 6 1/3 innings against the Royals.Phil Foden Manchester City Jersey . The 27-year-old Scrivens will be joining his third NHL club since signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a free agent in 2010. The move also reunites with him with head coach Dallas Eakins from their time together with the American Hockey Leagues Toronto Marlies. Fabian Delph Jersey . The defence is doing its part, too. Drew Brees threw a pair of touchdown passes in the first half and the guys on the other side made sure that was enough, sending the Saints to a 17-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night. http://www.authenticmanchestercityshop.com/Authentic-Aymeric-Laporte-Manchester-City-Jersey/ .25 million option on reliever Jose Veras. Claudio Bravo Jersey . Brazilian national coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has confirmed that the veteran goalkeeper is set to join Toronto on loan, saying it will help him be ready for the World Cup. Kyle Walker Manchester City Jersey . The Redskins announced Monday that the quarterback who led the team to the Super Bowl championship in the 1987 season will serve as a personnel executive.UFC expert Adam Matues provides his preview for UFC 205 as Conor McGregor taking on Eddie Alvarez.Ill wrap one on one shoulder, and Ill wrap another on the other shoulder.Those were the words of Conor McGregor as he prepares for his latest attempt at history. In the early hours of Sunday morning, the Irishman will face off against lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez and should he win, he will become the first fighter in the UFC to ever simultaneously hold two title belts. Despite being the 145lb world champion, McGregors last two fights have been at 170lbs, but the former Cage Warriors lightweight champion could have found his perfect division at 155lbs and perhaps the conditioning issues surrounding him are due to fighting at the extremities of his weight.The weight cut to get to 145lbs is too severe and the effects of such a gruelling preparation was seen in his fight with Chad Mendes, while he struggled with the high tempo in his fights against Diaz. UFC president Dana White seperates Eddie Alvarez and Conor McGregor during the UFC 205 press conference Alvarezs intensity for five hard rounds is proven and you would expect that he will look to utilise his weight advantage and wrestling skills to neutralise McGregor on the mat, making over 2.5 rounds appeal at 11/10 with Sky Bet.Mendes was able to take McGregor to the ground on multiple occasions and, although, the Irishman did show off much improved takedown defence in his last fight, an argument could be made for Alvarez to win by submission. Is McGregors charm back? The swagger is back and Eddie Alvarez could be about to find that out GROUND GAINSHowever, the Irishman has brought in Dillon Danis, a high-level Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt to be his sparring partner and, from the training footage that has been released, McGregor looks confident and slick on the ground.Alvarez may find he has underestimated McGregors ground game and after the first two rounds, switch his game plan and instead look to engage in a striking match, which will be a big mistake.Not only does Alvarez find himself at a five-inch reach disadvantage, his opponent is one of the most dangerous strikers in MMA, who combines deadly precision with devastating power. Striking coach Owen Roddy put it perfectly when he said Conor has 25 minutes to land just one big punch.WALKING TARGET McGregor is determined to give UFC fans another spectacle Despite his great footwork, Alvarezs run forward high pressure style makes him easy to hit. McGregor was able to knockdown the much heavier Diaz but both he and Alvarez are tough, resilient brawlers that are hard to finish.Its a monumental task for McGregor to step up a weight division and KO the lightweighht champion of the world for only the second time in his career.ddddddddddddMcGregor is a natural lightweight with a welterweight reach and you can anticipate that when the fight is standing, he will be slipping Alvarezs big right hand whilst countering with his brutal step back left hand, picking off Alvarezs advances every time he looks to set up a takedown.Im also expecting him to impress the judges with a couple of knockdowns but fail to get the knockout. On top of this, four of Alvarezs last five fights have gone the distance and therefore my main bet is going to be McGregor to win by decision at 15/2 with Sky Bet. McGregor gained revenge over Nate Diaz earlier this year BEST OF THE RESTUFC 205 is the best fight card ever assembled and below are my best bets from the fights outside of the main event.Nurmagomedov v JohnsonWith a perfect 23-0 record in professional MMA, Khabib Nurmagomedov is the sports hottest rising star right now. The Russian is unlucky not to be fighting Alvarez for the lightweight title himself and should have no problems extending his unbeaten record against Michael Johnson, who has lost two of his last three fights. However, Johnson has never lost via TKO/KO and therefore Nurmagomedov to win by submission at 4/1 looks a good bet.Jedrzejczyk vs Kowalkiewicz UFCs new Rousey Our exclusive interview with Joanna Jedrzejczyk Its the battle of the unbeaten Polish females for the first title fight of the night as straw weight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk defends her belt against Karolina Kowalkiewicz. The champion is arguably the best female fighter on the planet right now, although Cris Cyborg and Ronda Rousey may have something to say about that, but its not going to be an easy night for her in what could potentially be the fight of the night. The build-up started explosively with Jedrzejczyk seemingly head-butting her opponent at the weigh in. With seven of her 12 MMA wins coming via decision, you can expect the former kick-boxer to use aggressive and precise striking to successfully defend her belt via points. My bet is therefore Jedrzejczyk to win by decision at 10/11.Weidman v RomeroThis is closer fight than the odds would suggest, with both fighters having just one loss on their MMA records. Chris Weidman is the 4/7 favourite, which is too short for someone who hasnt fought for 11 months, having suffered injury setbacks since losing his title. It looks an even worse price when we consider that his opponent Yoel Romero has won seven straight fights with the last six going to a third round. Im going to avoid picking a side for this fight and instead my bet is going to be over 2.5 rounds at evens.Undercard AccaNurmagomedov to win by submission, Jedrzejczyk by decision & Over 2.5 rounds in Weidman v Romero - 18/1Also See:Is the McGregor swagger back?UFCs new Rousey ' ' '