Moving Paredes to the IL wasn't the only move the Astros made Sunday. The team also optioned catcher Cesar Salazar to triple-A Sugar Land. That opened two roster spots, and the Astros filled them by recalling infielder Shay Whitcomb and calling up veteran and recent re-signee Jon Singleton.

Yes, they were thumped by the rival Astros on Sunday. But they chased another ace out of the game early and these Mariners proved they are here to stay.

The Houston Astros made a Framber Valdez announcement before Friday's series opener against the Seattle Mariners.

Sunday wasn’t a must-win game for the Astros, but it was close. A three-game sweep at the hands of the Mariners would have seen their lead atop the American League West division dwindle to two games.

Christian Walker hit a tiebreaking home run in the sixth inning and the Houston Astros went on to rout the host Seattle Mariners 11-3 Sunday afternoon.

Starter Hunter Brown had an off-day but the Astros offense managed 13 hits and 11 runs to stop a two-game skid against Seattle.

Bryan Woo turning in a five-pitch, three-easy-groundball inning between the outbursts only added to the feeling that the Mariners might just pull off a sweep of the Astros and pull within two games in the AL West.