Nintendo » made a season-high 36 saves on 38 shots

SEATTLE -- When Brad Miller was hitting a season-low .151 three months into the season, he might not have expected even to be with the Seattle Mariners in the final month of the season. But Miller made perhaps his most significant contribution to the clubs post-season aspirations Monday night, hitting a tiebreaking, two-run triple and driving in three runs in a 4-1 victory over the Houston Astros. "Ive said all year, and a lot of people thought I was crazy, but I believe hes an offensive player in this league," Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon said. "Hes struggled quite a bit early but I think its starting to pay off a little bit now." The Mariners moved one game behind Oakland, which lost to the White Sox, 5-4 in 12 innings, for the first AL wild card and are one game ahead of Detroit for the second playoff spot. With one out in the eighth, Mike Zunino worked a walk off Michael Foltynewicz (0-1). James Jones pinch ran for him and stole second. Tony Sipp entered and walked Michael Saunders. Jones then stole third without a throw. He has 25 steals in 26 attempts. "I was just trying to be aggressive," Miller said. "I was just looking for something I could drive. I was able to lay off two sliders and let Jonesy get to third. I just wanted get the head out and drive it." With the infield and outfield drawn in, Miller hit a liner that skipped past right-fielder Jake Marisnick, rolling to the wall. Both runners scored and Miller reached third standing up. Austin Jackson followed with a single to centre. "He made the right play," Astros interim manager Tom Lawless said of Marisnick. "That ball was hit pretty good. Just got out there and back-spinned up and took off on him." Danny Farquhar (3-1) worked the eighth for the victory. Fernando Rodney, despite putting two on in the ninth and throwing 30 pitches, picked up his AL-leading 44th save in his 47th opportunity. Danny Farquhar (3-1) worked the eighth for the victory. Fernando Rodney put two on in the ninth but earned his AL-leading 44th save in his 47th opportunity. Despite struggling with his control, Felix Hernandez tossed five-hit ball for six innings. He matched his season high with four walks and threw two wild pitches. Houston put runners in scoring position three times against Hernandez but they were hitless in five attempts to drive the runner in -- striking out four times. "Felix battled all night," McClendon said. "He had some strikeouts and had some walks. It looked like he was a little out of rhythm. In the end, he got six innings in, no runs. Shows how great he is." Astros starter Brad Peacock entered with a 5.01 ERA, but he allowed just four hits, walked two and struck out six in five innings. Miller delivered a two-out RBI single in the sixth off Jorge De Leon. The Astros tied it in the seventh -- even after having a home run taken back by a replay review. TRAINERS ROOM Mariners: Saunders was activated from the DL and started in right field. He has been out since July 11 with a left oblique strain and a viral infection. ... OF Dustin Ackley missed his second straight game with an ailing left ankle. "Its one of those things that might take a couple days and Ill be ready to go," he said. He will have an MRI to rule out anything serious. UP NEXT Mariners LHP Roenis Elias (10-12) matches up against Houstons Collin McHugh. ROTATION PREPARATION McClendon has set his rotation through the end of the season. Hes going with Hernandez, Hisashi Iwakuma, Chris Young, Roenis Elias and James Paxton. By design, Hernandez will be in line to pitch the seasons final game. Or, if clinched beforehand, he could switch to start a wild-card game. SPOILER ALERT The Astros can play playoff spoilers down the stretch. They face Seattle (five games), the Los Angeles Angles (three) and Cleveland (four) over the next 13 days. Interim manager Tom Lawless would like to give his September callups more playing time but wont. "While were playing these teams in the playoff hunt, its not fair to everyone else. Were going to try to win the game, bottom line," he said. Roberto Osuna Astros Jersey . Diego Costa headed in Gabis corner seven minutes from time to secure victory ahead of the return match in Madrid on March 11. "We know that at Madrid it will be another game, which will also be important and very difficult," Milan coach Clarence Seedorf said. Justin Verlander Astros Jersey . Johns, N.L., to Thunder Bay, Ont., after a deal was announced to build a new $106-million "event centre" in the Lake Superior community. https://www.cheapastros.com/2423o-j-r-ri...sey-astros.html. The veteran NFL receiver received his work permit and is in Montreal for the start of the Alouettes rookie camp. Johnson even took in the Montreal Canadiens Game 5 win over the New York Rangers at the Bell Centre Tuesday night. Mike Scott Jersey . Catch the game on TSN starting at 7pm et/4pm pt. Tampa Bay currently holds the last of the Atlantics three automatic bids to the playoffs, but the Maple Leafs are just one point behind. Will Harris Astros Jersey . Sixteen teams have moved on. Sixteen teams have gone home.RALEIGH, N.C. -- Just when it seemed as though Carolina was heading toward a six-game losing streak, Jordan Staal and Manny Malhotra scored late to give the Hurricanes a much-needed win. Malhotra, who played his third game since signing with the Hurricanes on Oct. 31, scored 2:40 into overtime, and Carolina skated off with a 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night. Malhotras drive from the slot on a breakaway got past goalie Steve Mason. "I wanted to make sure I got a quick shot off," Malhotra said. "I think it surprised him. We did a lot of good things as a team, and scoring is the icing on the cake. Im just trying to do the little things that make teams successful." The Hurricanes forced overtime after Staal scored with 52.3 seconds left in regulation, with goalie Justin Peters on the bench in favour of an extra skater. "We stuck with our game the whole 60 minutes," Staal said. "For us to rebound, it shows the character in this room that we can keep battling through some tough times. It was nice to see us bounce back after that goal they scored." Philadelphias Scott Hartnell scored his first of the season on a power play with 3:58 left in regulation. But the Flyers couldnt hold on and went to overtime for the first time. "Its nice to score a goal and to get a point, but it obviously lleaves a sour taste in your mouth when they score two goals in less than a couple of minutes," Hartnell said.dddddddddddd "I think we played smart with the puck except for a few shifts, and unfortunately we werent able to get the other point." Peters stopped 28 shots and earned his first win of the season. He made his fifth straight start in place of the injured Cam Ward. "We gave up the late goal, but for us to stay with it was rewarding," Peters said. "We played the right way. We want to use this momentum. It feels good, and weve got to want this again." The Flyers, who have lost three of four, have scored more than two goals only once this season in 14 games. Carolina was 0-of-4 on the power play, including a 5-on-3 advantage that carried over into the third period. Philadelphia, which has the 29th ranked power play in the NHL, went 1 for 4 with a rare man-advantage goal. Mason made a season-high 36 saves on 38 shots, also a season high. Mason, 5-2 in his career against Carolina, made a season-high 36 saves on 38 shots, also a season high. NOTES: Carolina activated RW Radek Dvorak from the injured list after he missed three games because of a lower-body injury. ... Philadelphia captain Claude Giroux is seeking his first goal of the season. Dating to last season, Giroux hasnt scored in 19 games. ' ' '