Astros Fall 8–7 to Mariners as Jeremy Peña Exits with Knee Tightness
The Houston Astros continued to add to their losing streak in Seattle, as their early momentum unraveled in a dramatic 8–7 loss to the Mariners on Saturday, turning a promising AL West matchup into another rough night on the road. What began as a commanding 7–2 lead quickly slipped away as Seattle chipped away inning by inning, eventually flipping the game in its favor. Along with the frustrating loss, more injury concerns began to surface.
Jeremy Peña exited in the fourth inning with right posterior knee tightness, adding an injury scare to an already shaky roster. The issue reportedly surfaced a day earlier, though Peña attempted to play through it after initially downplaying the discomfort. He reportedly kept it to himself and later acknowledged he probably should have reported it sooner.
The tightness returned while he was on the bases, and after reaching third, he signaled to the dugout before trainers came out to evaluate him. Nick Allen, whom the Astros acquired from the Atlanta Braves in a one-for-one trade for Mauricio Dubón on November 19, 2025, stepped in for Peña. The Astros’ offense had done its part early, building a multi-run cushion, but the bullpen could not hold off Seattle’s late surge.
As the Mariners made their comeback, Houston’s control of the game slipped away, leaving both the scoreboard and Peña’s status as lingering concerns heading into the series. Due to Peña’s knee issue, it is likely he will sit out today’s game as a precaution to ensure full recovery and avoid further aggravation.