Alvarez hit a three-run HR as the Astros won Game 1

Yordan Alvarez blasted a game-ending three-run homer off Robbie Ray with two outs in the ninth inning,

, disrupting the Seattle Mariners' strategy of using the Cy Young Award winner in a rare relief role and lifting the Houston Astros to an 8-7 victory on Tuesday's playoff opener.

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After Justin Verlander's poor start, the AL West champion Astros edged rookie star Julio Rodriguez and the wild-card Mariners in the bottom of the game.

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Houston was trailing 7-5 when rookie David Hensley reached in the ninth when Seattle closer Paul Sewald brushed against his jersey.

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Mariners manager Scott Servais then brought Ray, who started Saturday in Toronto in the AL Wild Card Series, into the left-hander vs. lefty with Alvarez. Ray,

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who won the Cy Young last year with Toronto, made just six relief appearances in his career and never earned a professional save.

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Alvarez, who hit 37 homers in the regular season, sent Ray's second pitch deep into the right-field seats to spark a wild celebration with his parents in the stands.

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"Having them there and just because of the city of Houston, they know we're a team that never gives up, so just him being able to hit there.

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