SEATTLE -- Collin McHugh didnt know he was starting Tuesday until late the night before. Authentic Browns Jerseys . When he took the mound, he surprised just about everyone with his performance. McHugh struck out a career-high 12 in his season debut to lead the Houston Astros to a 5-2 win against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night, extending Seattles losing streak to eight games. McHugh (1-0) was told he was being called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Monday and flew to Seattle. It wasnt until he got to the team hotel late Monday night that he found out he was going to start for the Astros on Tuesday. Before the game, Houston coach Bo Porter characterized McHugh as a "pitch to contact guy," but the Mariners made almost no contact. McHugh struck out the first three batters he faced to set the tone for his first win in 10 career starts. "That was outstanding. Thats what you call seizing the opportunity," Porter said. The right-hander didnt walk a batter, giving up three hits in 6 2-3 shutout innings. "I dont think anybody prepares to go out and strike out a bunch of people. But I knew I had pretty decent command today with two or three pitches," McHugh said. "It was really good to kind of get the proverbial gorilla off your back with a W." McHughs stuff caught the Mariners off guard as well, as they only reached second once against him. "He was a little different than the scouting report we got. He was 94 (miles an hour) with a pretty good cut slider," Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon said. "He threw exceptionally well tonight." The Astros offence gave McHugh plenty to work with, as Jason Castro and Chris Carter each hit homers to give Houston a 3-0 lead after two innings. Seattle starter Erasmo Ramirez (1-3) struck out eight over six innings and only allowed three hits, but they included the two costly homers. Three at-bats into the game, Castro just cleared the left field wall for a two-run homer, his fourth. Carter followed in the second inning with a shot to left that landed in the second deck for his first homer of the year. Seattles Dustin Ackley tried to counter with a deep ball to left in the bottom of the second, but Matt Dominguez made a leaping catch at the wall to end the inning. Dominguez added a homer of his own in the top of the seventh to give Houston a 4-0 lead. The Astros have now won two in a row after a seven-game losing streak, and their offence -- which entered Tuesdays game with a major league-worst .196 batting average -- is finally showing some signs of life. "Once the whole offence is flowing like it is the last couple games, you kind of get in a little groove with it," Dominguez said. "Its been nice being able to score some runs." McHughs 12th strikeout came against Robinson Cano to leadoff the bottom of the seventh, but Porter brought on reliever Raul Valdes with two outs in the inning. McHugh had thrown 89 pitches, well above his high of 73 pitches in his minor league outings this year. Valdes walked Kyle Seager and then gave up a two-run home run to Justin Smoak, Seattles only offence of the game. McHughs call up came after Scott Feldman was placed on the disabled list with biceps tendinitis. Feldman will miss at least one more start, possibly giving McHugh more chances to show what he can do. "He didnt do anything to hurt his chances of sticking around," Porter said. "He definitely earned his keep." NOTES: The crowd of 10,466 was the fifth-lowest in Safeco Field history. Six of the seven lowest crowds at Safeco have been matchups with the Astros, all coming since the start of last season. ... Seattle RHP Hisashi Iwakuma (finger) was scheduled to pitch in a rehabilitation assignment at Triple-A Tacoma, but instead threw a simulated game at Safeco Field on Tuesday afternoon due to weather concerns. McClendon said the outing went well, and Iwakuma will have a rehab outing with Tacoma on Sunday. ... Astros RHP Lucas Harrell, designated for assignment on April 16, cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Simeon Thomas Jersey . In the second game of their day/night doubleheader at Minneapolis, three Blue Jays pitchers, Steve Delabar, Sergio Santos and J. Austin Corbett Jersey . -- Nelson Cruz has only two hits in 15 at-bats against the Kansas City Royals this season. http://www.authenticbrownsshopnfl.com/ .C. -- Martin Kaymer set a U.GOODYEAR, Ariz. - Bryan Price sat down in the cushy chair. In front of him was a desk. Behind him, two lockers of his very own. The first-time Cincinnati Reds manager felt a little out of place in his own office. Time to start getting used to it. The Reds open spring training on Friday when pitchers and catchers report and have their first workout. Price will be front-and-centre, a new role for the former pitching coach who took over when Dusty Baker was fired after another playoff disappointment. "I told the guys in our (staff) meeting, You better make sure you come in here and keep me company," Price said on Thursday afternoon. "Im not used to being in a room by myself, unless Im in the doghouse. Been there a few times." And he will be again once the games begin and one of his moves backfires. Ask Baker about that one. Baker got fired after leading the Reds to the playoffs for the third time in four years. They lost to Pittsburgh in the wild card game, the third time they were knocked out in the opening round. The post-season fizzle cost Baker his job and gave Price the chance to manage a team with plenty of talent to contend. He knows the team will be judged not on whether it reaches the playoffs, but whether it wins when it gets there. Just like the Bengals, who have lost their opening playoff game each of the last three seasons, the Reds arent going to get a final grade until well after the regular season has ended. Price isnt going to dwell on it with his players. "For me, the references — if any — will be very short in discussing the past," he said. "Theres nothing we can do about it. Ive inherited a phenomenal group of guys that really want to play this game beyond where weve been." The Reds are in good shape as they get started. The pitching staff is mostly healthy. Reliever Jonathan Broxton had surgery to repair a tear in his forearm llast August and has been making good progress in his throwing program during the off-season. Genard Avery Jersey. Hes the only one who may not be fully ready for opening day. "Hes stayed constant in his throwing progress, which is terrific," Price said. "And we definitely anticipate him being on the mound this month. If thats enough time to get him ready for the season, well see. Well probably have a lot better answer when we get into those last 10 days of March." Right-hander Johnny Cueto has fully recovered from strained muscles in his right side that bothered him most of last season. Cueto wound up on the disabled list three times, limiting him to 11 starts. "That being said, youre talking about a guy who ended the season healthy and there shouldnt be any impediments to his spring training based on last year," Price said. "We can hit the ground running without any inhibitions." Left-hander Tony Cingrani has recovered from back spasms that limited him during his rookie season. Cingrani moves into the spot that opened when Bronson Arroyo left as a free agent, signing with Arizona. The Reds keep in touch with players in the off-season to monitor their health. So far, the reports on all of them are encouraging, although the club will know for sure when they take physicals on Friday before the first workout. "So its probably an easier question to answer once we get through physicals tomorrow, but Im optimistic well be in good health," Price said. NOTES: Price is curious whether the bad weather on the East Coast will interfere with players travel. He said four club officials who were expected for a staff meeting on Thursday couldnt make it because their flights were cancelled. ... The position players report next Wednesday for physicals and the first full-squad workout. The Reds open their spring training schedule against the Indians on Feb. 26. 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