SEATTLE (AP) Martin Maldonado hit a three-run home run, Framber Valdez struck out eight to set career highs for wins and strikeouts, and the Houston Astros beat the Seattle Mariners 6-1 on Tuesday night to close on their fourth straight playoff berth.

Houston (28-27) is second in the AL West, comfortably ahead of the fourth-place Mariners (24-31) and the third-place Los Angeles Angels (25-31). The defending AL champions have five games left.

Houston has won three of four, scoring more than four runs for just the second time in its last 12 games.

”It’s fun when you get some hits,” Astros manager Dusty Baker said. ”It’s not fun when you don’t get any hits.”

Maldonado’s sixth homer, off reliever Brandon Brennan, highlighted a five-run sixth inning that included Michael Brantley’s tiebreaking leadoff home run against Casey Sadler (1-2). Sadler threw a pair of wild pitches, including one that scored a run, and