SEATTLE -- Jose Altuve had two hits and an RBI and the Houston Astros damaged the Seattle Mariners post-season hopes with a 5-2 victory Wednesday. Altuve had a RBI double in the fifth and a single in the seventh for his league-leading 200th hit. He is the second Astros player to accomplish the feat, joining Craig Biggio -- who set the franchise record of 210 in 1998. Altuve leads the league in hitting at .337, hits and steals with 52. If he finishes as the leader in all three categories he would be the first to do that since Seattles Ichiro Suzuki in 2001. The Mariners, who lost two of three in the series, remained a half-game behind Detroit for the American Leagues second wild-card spot. The Tigers lost to AL Central rival Kansas City, 3-0. Oakland, which opens a three-game series at Safeco Field on Friday, holds a two-game advantage over the Mariners for the first wild-card spot. Nick Tropeano (1-0), making his major league debut, held the Mariners in check for his five innings. He allowed two runs and four hits, striking out five and walking none, and left with a 4-2 lead. Tony Sipp finished the ninth for his fourth save in five opportunities. Regular closer Chad Qualls has a nagging hip injury and was unavailable. The Astros chased Hisashi Iwakuma (14-7) after just 4 1-3 innings, his third shortest outing of the season. Iwakuma struggled with his control from the start. The best indicator was his one-out walk to Jon Singleton in the second inning. It was just his 15th walk issued in 161 2-3 innings this season. Matt Dominguez then popped out before three straight hits, by Alex Presley, Max Stassi and Jonathan Villar, produced three runs. In Iwakumas 24 previous starts, opponents had scored a combined three runs in the second inning. The Mariners responded in the bottom of the inning with two runs off Mike Zuninos one-out double. Altuve, the leagues leading hitter but hitless in 10 previous at-bats in the series, pushed it to 4-2 with his one-out RBI double to left in the fifth. After Iwakumas second walk -- his 16th of the season -- with one out in the fifth, he was lifted. He gave up four runs and six hits and struck out six. The Astros added a run in the eighth on Presleys two-out RBI single. He and Stassi each had two RBIs. UP NEXT The Mariners have their final off day of the season Thursday before their critical weekend series against Oakland. Lefty James Paxton (5-2, 1.87) opens the series Friday against right-hander Jason Hammel (2-5, 4.70). Houston also is off Thursday before its three-game weekend series at the Los Angeles Angels. Brett Oberholtzer (5-10, 4.38) will be matched up against C.J. Wilson (11-9, 4.64). SELIG AND NO. 42 Commissioner Bud Selig, retiring after this season, came through Seattle and spoke with the media before the game. Among his topics was the genesis for all the players wearing No. 42 on April 15 each season to honour Jackie Robinson breaking the Color Line on that date in 1947. "Commissioners are never supposed to have favourites," Selig began. "Let me tell you a story. I came back from a trip to Arizona and my phone was ringing. It was Ken Griffey Jr. And he apologized for calling me so late and he said, I know how you feel about Jackie Robinson. What would be wrong with all of us wearing No. 42? " Selig said he would think about it but didnt take long. The next morning he called Robinsons widow, Rachel, and told her Griffeys idea and she embraced it. So every year since 2004 every player wears No. 42 on April 15. The number also was retired throughout baseball in 1997. CLOSER TO THE END Even though Mariners closer Fernando Rodney has 44 saves in 47 opportunities and needs just two more to set the franchise record, he tends to be a final-inning roller coaster. Manager Lloyd McClendon says just enjoy the ride. "Im a believer that once you get to your closer in the ninth inning, youve done your job as a manager," McClendon said. "Its his game to win or lose. . If you asked if Id take Fernando Rodney out of the game, it would have to be dire straits." Mark Stone Jersey . So far, so good: Gonzalez has allowed one run through 12 innings this season. His second start came Tuesday night, when he gave up only three singles over six innings to lead the Nationals to a 5-0 victory over the Miami Marlins. Ottawa Senators Jerseys . While he was away, it was the division-rival Baltimore Orioles conducting a little business of their own, scooping up Ubaldo Jimenez on Monday evening to a reported four-year, $50-million contract. http://www.authenticsenatorspro.com/Jason-spezza-senators-jersey/ . Monta Ellis had 30 points and nine assists, Nowitzki was another of seven Dallas players in double figures with 11 points and the Mavericks beat the Los Angeles Lakers 123-104 Tuesday night. Mikkel Boedker Jersey . Today, well look at five frontcourt players today, here from the Bay Area. 1. AMIR JOHNSON (Raptors): I cant figure out what the issue or problem is, but based upon what Im seeing, hes not right. Daniel Alfredsson Jersey . Groves signed with Cleveland as an unrestricted free agent last year after a season with Arizona. He was in the linebacker rotation and had a sack in the season opener against Miami.The Winnipeg Jets conclude a two game California road trip against the San Jose Sharks with a 9:30pm ct face off at SAP Center. The (23-23-5) Jets, who are on a season high four-game winning streak, are seventh in the Central Division with 51 points and trail Minnesota by eight points for a wild card playoff spot. Tonight is the second of three games between these teams this season. Grant Clitsome had a goal and two assists in Winnipegs 5-4 shootout win November 10th at MTS Centre. Ondrej Pavelec (15-19-4, 2.99, .901) will start his seventh consecutive game in goal. Jets Projected Lines: Ladd-Little-Frolik Kane-Scheifele-Wheeler Setoguchi-Jokinen-Byfuglien Thorburn-Wright-Peluso Enstrom-Bogosian Stuart-Trouba Pardy-Ellerby Bryan Little is on a five game point streak that includes two goals and six assists. Blake Wheeler (2 goals and four assists) Mark Scheifele (two goals and three assists) and Jacob Trouba (three goals and oone assist) are on three game point streaks.dddddddddddd San Jose is on a four game winning streak after beating Calgary 3-2 Monday night. The (32-12-6) Sharks are second in the Pacific Division with 70 points. They trail first place Anaheim by nine points. Alex Stalock (6-2, 1.80, .938) will start in goal. His last start was seven days ago when he made 24 saves in a 3-0 win in Florida. Sharks Projected Lines: Pavelski-Thornton-Burns Nieto-Marleau-Wingels Kearns-Desjardins-Kennedy Brown-McCarthy-Hayes Boyle-Irwin Vlasic-Demers Stuart-Braun Joe Pavelski has scored six goals and has one assist in his last three games. Patrick Marleau is on a three game point streak that includes one goal and four assists. Following tonights game, the Jets will stay overnight in San Jose and fly home to Winnipeg tomorrow. Next action is Saturday night at MTS Centre in a 6:00ct start against the Toronto Maple Leafs. 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