message and expects to catch up with him later this week.

HOUSTON -- Dallas Keuchel isnt quite ready to say hes on a roll.However last years AL Cy Young Award winner will acknowledge that hes starting to feel more like himself than he did during his struggles early this season.Luis Valbuena hit a solo homer and Colby Rasmus and rookie A.J. Reed added two-run shots in the fourth inning to back up a solid start by Keuchel and give the Houston Astros a 5-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night.It was definitely a good first start after the halfway mark and I know its a long season so there was no panic, there was nothing to be mad at except me making some bad pitches, Keuchel said. Id rather finish well than start well so its getting there.Keuchel (6-9) allowed five hits and two runs in six innings for his season-high third straight win after dropping eight of his previous nine decisions.The finish on his pitches was good, manager A.J. Hinch said. He was throwing his breaking ball where he wanted to. He got some big strikeouts. When you see him with the combination of getting the ball on the ground and also missing some bats that is pretty vintage Dallas Keuchel.Will Harris, who was named to his first All-Star team on Tuesday, pitched a scoreless ninth for his ninth save.The Astros trailed by one in the fourth inning when Rasmus launched his homer off Taijuan Walker (4-7) to the bullpen in right-center field to make it 3-2. Valbuena drew a walk before, with two outs and two strikes, Reed hit his second career homer to left-center to extend it to 5-2.Walker yielded five hits and five runs before leaving after four innings with discomfort in his right foot. Its his third start that has been shortened because of this problem. He left early on June 14 and June 19 because of his foot.After the second inning, I had no legs. Everything was up, Walker said. Everything was running back to the plate. I just couldnt drive it in there. Its frustrating because I dont know what I can do to make it better yet.Nelson Cruz homered for the Mariners, who dropped their second straight to Houston.The three home runs Walker allowed tied a career-high and all were by left-handers. Hes been plagued by homers by lefties this season and 13 of the 18 homers he has allowed have been to them.Dae-Ho Lee singled with one out in the second before a double by Kyle Seager. The Mariners took a 1-0 lead on an RBI groundout by Chris Iannetta.Valbuenas homer, which landed in the second deck in right field, came with two outs in the bottom of the inning to tie it at 1-all.Cruzs 22nd home run gave Seattle a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning.He was shaken up in the sixth inning when he fouled a ball off his left foot and leg. He limped around the plate for a couple of minutes while talking to Mariners manager Scott Servais and a trainer before staying in the game to finish his at-bat.HOT IN HEREThe air conditioning in Minute Maid Park was off for about three innings on Tuesday night because of a power outage outside of the building. It had been off for a bit when the teams official Twitter account announced the problem at about 9 p.m. with the temperature outside the ballpark a balmy 86 degrees. Many people could be seen fanning themselves with their hands or pieces of paper as the temperature in the domed ballpark began to rise. Another tweet came in the eighth inning saying the problem was fixed and the air conditioning was back on.Oh yeah, it was hot. But I didnt mind it, Rasmus said. I needed to get a good sweat in anyway.TRAINERS ROOMMariners: RHP Felix Hernandez will throw a simulated game Wednesday. Servais said Hernandez will throw 45 pitches. Hernandez has been on the DL with a strained right calf since June 1.UP NEXTMariners: Wade LeBlanc (1-0, 1.50) will make his third start of the season on Wednesday. LeBlanc allowed three hits and two runs in six innings of a 5-2 win over Baltimore in his last start.Astros: Mike Fiers (6-3, 4.12) is scheduled to start for Houston on Wednesday. Fiers has won three straight and has pitched 14 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings at home. Ryan Smyth Oilers Jersey . According to a report from the Winnipeg Free Press, the Bombers will name Acting GM Kyle Walters to the post full time. Grant Fuhr Oilers Jersey . -- If Henry Burris has his way, he will be the starting quarterback to lead the Hamilton Tiger-Cats back to the Grey Cup next year. http://www.hockeyoilersshop.com/bill-ranford-jersey/ . -- Peyton Manning will have all of his wide receivers available for the first time in a month when the Denver Broncos begin their playoff run Jan. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Oilers Jersey . It might not have mattered. While the Dodgers are preparing for the playoffs, the Padres showed their future has promise behind two rookies. Jari Kurri Jersey .com) - Yankee Stadium is the home of the Bronx Bombers, but on Sunday afternoon it will open its gates to host the latest addition of the Hudson River Rivalry. Brisbane AFL great Jonathan Brown has described the Lions as dysfunctional and a club divided after Mondays decision to axe Justin Leppitsch as senior coach.Leppitsch was released from the final year of his contract after Brisbane slumped to a 17th-place finish with just three wins this season.Brown, a triple-premiership teammate and good friend of Leppitschs, gave a scathing assessment of his old club as it plunged further into crisis.There is obviously a fair bit of distrust (at board level) and a fair bit of distrust in the football department as well, Brown said on Fox Footys On The Couch on Monday night.So its a big operation (to fix) going forward.The football department has got problems there. Theyre not united, the playing group is not on board with some of the off-field stuff, so it needs to be completely tidied up. It is dysfunctional, unfortunately, at the moment and that hurts me to say as an ex-player.I love the footy club and have good relations with a lot of people at that football club. I love what Leigh Matthews has done for the footy club in the past but unfortunately it looks like there needs to be a fair bit of work done.Brown said he hadnt spoken to Leppitsch in thhe hours following his sacking but had sent him a text message and expects to catch up with him later this week.ddddddddddddLeppitsch didnt attend Mondays media conference at which chairman Bob Sharpless and chief executive Greg Swann announced the move.His management company released a statement saying he would take a few days to reflect on the decision before making any public comment.While disappointed at the state of the Lions, Brown admitted he wasnt surprised to see the axe fall on his mate after three dismal seasons at the helm.I think he was in a bit of trouble ... he presented to the board last week and it was a positive presentation but he was coming from a long back, Brown said.This has probably been in the works for the last few weeks. Leppitsch presented really well and I think he had the support of Leigh Matthews but ... the AFL recommendation was that they probably didnt want Leppa to continue in that job.Ultimately though it was the boards decision, which Leigh Matthews is a part of and unfortunately he got his marching orders one year early. ' ' '