HOUSTON -- A couple of missed opportunities by the Seattle Mariners led to a 2-1 loss to the Houston Astros on Monday.Lance McCullers struck out 10 in seven strong innings and George Springer homered for the second straight day to help Houston to the win.McCullers (4-2), who missed his previous turn with a blister on his right index finger, allowed five hits and one run while matching his season high for strikeouts. Luke Gregerson pitched a perfect eighth and Will Harris did the same in the ninth for his eighth save.The Mariners came up empty twice after having a runner on third with no outs.The first time came when Leonys Martin hit a leadoff triple before Seth Smith struck out. McCullers then struck out Robinson Cano, but the ball got away from catcher Jason Castro and Martin broke for home. McCullers covered and took the short toss from Castro to tag out Martin at the plate.But Martin didnt regret his decision.If given the opportunity, I would do it again, he said. Im not afraid.Springer got things going for the Astros with a double in the first before a single by Marwin Gonzalez. Carlos Correa drew a walk to load the bases with one out before the Astros took a 1-0 lead on a sacrifice fly by Luis Valbuena.Kyle Seager hit a ground-rule double with one out in the second and the Mariners tied it on the single by Lee. McCullers settled in after that, retiring the next 14 straight. He struck out eight in that span, including the side in the third.The Mariners didnt have another baserunner until Cano singled to start the seventh. A walk by Nelson Cruz followed and a single from Seager loaded the bases. Seattle missed another scoring opportunity when Lee grounded into a double play before McCullers retired Adam Lind to end the inning and his day.I thought we had them on the ropes there in the seventh inning, bases loaded and nobody out, Seattle manager Scott Servais said. Unfortunately, we didnt get it done. But McCullers had really good stuff. Probably one of the better breaking balls weve seen all year.Seattle starter Wade Miley (6-5) yielded seven hits and two runs in 6 2/3 innings for his third straight loss.Smith went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts, ending a streak of four straight games with a homer.There were two outs in the fifth when Springer launched his 19th home run to left-center field to make it 2-1.I tried to get a sinker down and away and cut it back over the plate, Miley said. I just made a mistake pitch and he did what hes supposed to do with it.Dae-Ho Lee had an RBI single for the Mariners, whose four-game winning streak was snapped.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.FLIP AND PITCHFour-time defending national champion and three-time defending world all-around champion gymnast Simone Biles threw out the ceremonial first pitch. But it was far from an average throw. The 19-year-old, who is from nearby Spring, Texas, flipped toward the mound before launching a high throw to pitcher Scott Feldman. Biles was relieved that it went well and glad she didnt become part of a blooper reel.UP NEXTMariners: Taijuan Walker (4-6, 3.29 ERA) will start for Seattle on Tuesday. Walker is 2-0 with a 1.59 ERA and 23 strikeouts in his last four starts.Astros: Dallas Keuchel (5-9, 5.13 ERA) is scheduled to start Tuesday. Last years AL Cy Young Award winner, who has struggled this season, has won two straight games for the first time this year and is looking for his first win at home since April 15. Wholesale Sneakers For Sale . The 29-year-old Baines has established himself as one of the top attacking full backs in the country and was the subject of two bids from United during the last off-season. Everton manager Roberto Martinez says that keeping Baines at the club is a "massive boost and exciting for the future" because he brings "maturity and football knowledge in a very specialized position on the pitch" and an "infectious and positive influence to the rest of the squad. Cheap Sneakers Ireland . -- Aldon Smith believes he is on the path to being sober for good. http://www.wholesalesneakersireland.com/ . While hell be dialed in to that tournament on a course he loves, you can forgive him if his eyes glance down the calendar just a bit, towards April. Cheap Mens Shoes Ireland . Marincin has played in two NHL games so far this season with two penalty minutes. The 21-year-old has three goals, four assists and a plus-5 rating in 24 games with the American Hockey Leagues Oklahoma City Barons this season. Cheap Sneakers Online Ireland . Ashley Youngs cross was inadvertently headed by Chester into his own net in the 66th minute, allowing United to claim a third straight league win. "We had to dig deep with our fighting spirit and weve done that," United striker Wayne Rooney said. The Buffalo Bills have a chance to do something this week that they havent done yet this century.No, not make the playoffs. Sweep the New England Patriots.The Patriots (6-1) travel to face the Bills (4-3) on Sunday at New Era Field four weeks after suffering their only loss of the season. Buffalos 16-0 victory on Oct. 2 was also New Englands first shutout loss at Gillette Stadium and their first scoreless home game since 1993.They should be very confident from the way they came in her and played us on the road, Patriots defensive back Devin McCourty said. Now, going there, at home, its not going to be any easier, and we lost last time.New England has not lost both regular-season games against an AFC East opponent with Tom Brady at quarterback, a 15-year stretch that ranks as the longest since the AFL/NFL merger in 1970. During that span, the Patriots have lost the first game against a division opponent six times. They won each rematch by an average of 28 points.Patriots coach Bill Belichick, however, doesnt believe the historical data will help his team when they face the Bills.It really doesnt matter what happened last week, last month, last year, Belichick said. What matters is what happens this week and thats what we can control. We cant control anything thats happened in the past, so were going to try and focus on what we can do this week and prepare as well as we can to perform as well we can.Bills coach Rex Ryan won two straight against the Patriots when he was the coach of the New York Jets in 2010, but one of those games came in the playoffs.We also got beat 45-3 by them in the same season, Ryan recalled this week.The Patriots are better prepared for this rematch, if only because they have Brady this time. Third-stringer Jacoby Brissett started the first game against the Bills, with Brady serving the final game of his Deflategate suspension.With Brady back under center, the Patriots have averaged 31.7 points and won three in a row. Brady has completed 75 percent of his passes for 1,004 yards with eight touchdowns and noo interceptions.ddddddddddddI dont know if Ive ever seen him better, Ryan said.Ryan admitted that the Bills were fortunate to play the Patriots during Bradys suspension.It was a great time to play them, Ryan said. You know, Ill admit it. It was probably an easier game to play them without (Brady).That was the second in a four-game winning streak for the Bills, their first since 2008, which ended last week with a 28-25 loss in Miami.After giving up 256 rushing yards to the Dolphins, the Bills are eager to get Pro Bowl defensive tackle Marcell Dareus back. Dareus was suspended for the first four games for violating the NFLs substance abuse policy, and has missed the last three with a hamstring injury.Im playing Sunday, man. I cant wait, Dareus said. Im ready to enjoy myself. Just happy to be out there with the guys. Running around, feeling good. Were ready to go pull it off, man. Were going to make it happen.The Patriots rank sixth in the NFL in rushing at 122.7 yards per game. Since Bradys return, the Patriots have become more pass-oriented but have still averaged 105.6 rushing yards in those victories.The Bills rushing attack, which led the NFL and is now ranked second (153.3 yards per game), could be without top tailback LeSean McCoy this week. McCoy pulled a hamstring during practice last week and aggravated the injury during the game against the Dolphins.Buffalo is also depleted in the passing game, with top wideout Sammy Watkins (foot) on injured reserve, Marquise Goodwin (concussion) likely out Sunday and Robert Woods (ankle) questionable to play.We know we have to be more efficient in the running game, Ryan said. Especially with some of the injuries that weve had outside. You know, if we cant run the ball, were going to be in trouble.The Patriots added depth at linebacker this week by acquiring Kyle Van Noy in a trade with the Detroit Lions. Van Noy started the first seven games for the Lions. ' ' '