HOUSTON -- Taijuan Walkers mother, Nellie Garcia, has been his biggest cheerleader throughout his baseball career. Minutes before making his major league debut for Seattle on Friday night against the Houston Astros, Walker found Garcia in the crowd and grabbed her for a long and emotional embrace. His mother had just one thing to tell her son before his big moment. "Good luck T.T.," Garcia said, using the nickname hes had since childhood. Pitching in front of about 40 family members and friends, Walker did not allow an earned run over five innings to help the Mariners beat Houston 7-1. Dustin Ackley had a career-high four hits with four RBIs. "You only get one debut, so having all of them out here was a great feeling," Walker said. The 21-year-old right-hander, rated the fifth-best prospect in baseball, yielded two hits and one run with two strikeouts and a walk. If the 6-foot-4 Walker (1-0) had any rookie nerves, it certainly didnt show as he retired the first eight batters he faced. "He was more and more comfortable as the game wore on and let the ball go a few times," manager Eric Wedge said. "I thought he did a nice job with the secondary stuff, with the breaking ball, with some changeups. He was downhill with the fastball. I thought he was very impressive out there." The Astros were up by one in the fourth before Ackley tied it with an RBI single. Seattle led by two in the fifth before a single by Ackley made it 5-1. A run-scoring single in the ninth gave Ackley four RBIs to tie a career best. He had the same number of hits as Houston. Astros starter Brad Peacock (3-5) was tagged for seven hits and five runs in 4 2-3 innings. Abraham Almonte, also playing his first major league game, added two RBIs to help the Mariners win their second straight following a six-game slide. Carter Capps, Charlie Furbush and Oliver Perez combined to pitch four scoreless innings after Walker left the game. Walker relied heavily on a fastball that was routinely clocked at 95 mph, but reached as high as 97 mph. He also used a cutter, curveball and slider to keep the Astros off balance. "He was really impressive," Houstons L.J. Hoes said. "Hes a big kid. On his video, he didnt look as big as he really is. It says hes throwing 96 (mph), but it seems way harder than that because hes so big." A first-round draft pick in 2010, Walker joined the Mariners after going 4-7 with a 2.46 ERA in 14 starts at Double-A and 5-3 with a 3.61 ERA over 11 starts in Triple-A. He was dominant in his last two outings, going 2-0 with a sparkling 0.82 ERA. Walker became the youngest starting pitcher to make his debut for the Mariners since Felix Hernandezs first game in 2005 at 19. The Mariners offset Walkers inexperience by starting catcher Henry Blanco, who turned 42 on Thursday. Wedge thought Blancos presence would help Walker feel more comfortable. Walker didnt get rattled during a tough third inning for Seattles defence. A two-out error by first baseman Justin Smoak gave Houston a 1-0 lead. Hoes singled on a grounder that deflected off Kyle Seagers glove at third base. But after a short visit to the mound by Blanco, Walker retired Jose Altuve to limit the damage. Walker set down six of his last seven batters, with the only baserunner coming on a walk to Brett Wallace with two outs in the fourth. Walker was helped by some dazzling defence for the last out of the fifth. Ackley sprinted before sliding on his knees to grab a fly ball hit by Grossman near the bullpen in right-centre. Walker pumped his fist and smiled before leaving the mound. Ackley had a hard time deciding if he enjoyed his defensive work or offensive performance better. "Man, the catch was pretty fun, Ill have to say that," he said. "I havent really had many plays like that, so that was pretty sweet. But you cant say that I didnt have fun having four hits. That was pretty fun, too. I dont know. Its all pretty good and pretty exciting." Walkers cheering section consisted of friends and family who travelled to Houston from California and Louisiana. Several members of the group, which included his mother, father and nine of his 11 siblings, donned his pinstriped No. 44 jersey from the Double-A Jackson Generals. Walker wore No. 27 on Friday night. Garcia was emotional as she watched her son pitch. She spoke of the hug she shared with her son during the game. "I think it was one of the best moments of my life," she said. "Weve had a lot of moments hugging on the field -- dont make me cry right now. I think that was the realest moment ever." Walkers father, Frank, smiled broadly as he talked about his son and the opportunity to share this milestone with him. "It is very exciting," he said. "Its awesome. Its unbelievable. Words really cant describe it." NOTES: The Mariners optioned RHP Erasmo Ramirez to Triple-A Tacoma and selected Almontes contract. Almonte started in right field. ... The series continues Saturday when Seattle LHP Joe Saunders opposes Dallas Keuchel. ... Houston C Carlos Corporan, on the seven-day concussion list, said he no longer has concussion symptoms and is "back to himself." He has been doing individual work, but isnt sure when hell return. ... Olympic gold medallist and softball star Cat Osterman threw out the ceremonial first pitch. Tigers Jerseys China . - Connor Brown and Dane Fox both scored in regulation and in the shootout, as the Erie Otters extended their win streak to 10 games by defeating the London Knights 4-3 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Detroit Tigers Gear .com) - Even on the day his New Hampshire football team became the nations top-ranked team two weeks ago, coach Sean McDonnell conceded something about the team they replaced at No. https://www.cheaptigers.com/ . -- Hee Young Park topped the leaderboard at 8 under Friday in the suspended second round of the Kingsmill Championship. Wholesale Tigers Jerseys . Terrance Broadway threw for 227 yards and Hunter Stover kicked three field goals as the Ragin Cajuns won an unprecedented fourth straight New Orleans Bowl with a 16-3 triumph over Nevada. Cheap Tigers Jerseys .In a statement released Friday, the Catalan club said the Brazil stars recovery would be monitored to determine when he can begin training again.NEW YORK -- With two outs and the bases loaded in the ninth inning, Martin Prado fouled off three straight fastballs from power pitcher Daniel Webb. To settle himself, he looked into the Yankees dugout and saw his new teammates standing at the railing, cheering him on. "They give you a little extra," Prado said. Prado worked the count full and then lined a single up the middle, lifting New York to a 4-3, come-from-behind victory over the Chicago White Sox on Friday night. "One of the biggest moments in my career, not personal-wise. Just getting a win for the Yankees means a lot," said Prado, who was obtained in a trade with Arizona on July 31. Prado also hit a two-run homer in the third, and Jacoby Ellsbury had an RBI double in the fifth off John Danks after Chicagos Jose Abreu connected for a three-run shot in the first against Shane Greene. Ichiro Suzuki started the ninth with a single and advanced on a sacrifice. After Derek Jeter lined out, Webb (5-4) intentionally walked Ellsbury and walked Mark Teixeira before Prados hit touched off a raucous celebration near second base. "I thought it was a game we had to win," left fielder Brett Gardner said of the Yankees, who are the fringes of the AL playoff race. David Robertson (2-4) struck out two in a perfect ninth, closing out New Yorks fourth win in 11 games. Chicago (59-69) lost its fourth straight and fell a season-high 10 games under .500. "You get three runs in the first and not get any more. ... Thats how you lose," White Sox designated hitter Adam Dunn said. After talking about how Cuban ballplayers admired the Yankees growing up because of their success, Abreu impressed New York with his 33rd homer in the first at-bat of his career at Yankee Stadium. Two innings later, Danks yielded Prados long ball, his AL-leading 24th homer given up. The right-hander allowed three runs, upping his total to a league-high 87, in five-plus innings. Greene recovered nicely after giving up three sttraight hits to start the game, including Abreus homer.ddddddddddddHe allowed a career-high nine hits in five-plus innings and struck out seven. Gardner made a strong throw to nail Alexei Ramirez at the plate -- a call upheld by video review -- to keep it 3-all in the sixth. TRAINERS ROOM White Sox: OF Adam Eaton is scheduled to begin a rehabilitation assignment Saturday with Triple-A Charlotte. He has been out with a strained right oblique since Aug. 9. Yankees: OF-DH Carlos Beltran was out of the lineup for the third straight day. He hit off a tee and did soft toss to test his injured right elbow, and all went well. "Were hoping hes a player for us (Saturday)," manager Joe Girardi said. UP NEXT Chicagos Scott Carroll (5-7) is set to start against New Yorks Hiroki Kuroda (8-8). Before the game the Yankees will retired Hall of Fame manager Joe Torres number and unveil a plaque in his honour in Monument Park. Torre led New York to four World Series championships in five years from 1996-2000 and 12 straight playoff appearances. FOUL, FOUL BALL Fan Kevin Ohea took chasing a foul ball to precarious lengths. The navy-suited 20-something, sitting in the first row of the second deck at Yankee Stadium, climbed the railing and went into an unused photographers perch to pick up the souvenir, receiving loud applause. The cheers turned to boos when he was escorted out by a policeman, but Ohea was met with another ovation when he was allowed to return. "They realized it was heat of the moment and realized there was nothing you could do about it," Ohea said of why he was not ejected from the ballpark. "I think the suit helped out." SPECIAL K Robertson got his 500th career strikeout, when he fanned Tyler Flowers in the ninth. SOLID START White Sox 2B Carlos Sanchez had his first three major league hits. He became the first White Sox player to have a three-hit game within his first two career games since Craig Wilson and Brian Simmons in 1998. ' ' 'rimmage toward the end of Thursdays practice. The World Cup of Basketball is just two weeks away. "Definitely scary, not just the fact that he went down, but the fact that I actually was the one who dove on him," Davis said. "I kind of feel bad and I hope hes fine because he really wants to be here. He really wants to play." Cousins watched the end of the scrimmage with a bag of ice on his knee as trainers milled around his table. He took a few ginger steps while players were coming off the floor. "Were hopeful its just a bruise or a slight sprain, but we wont really know until he gets his MRI," said Jerry Colangelo, the managing director of USA Basketball. "We hope it turns out to be nothing, but mmore precautionary than anything else.dddddddddddd But nothing definitive until we get the results." It was the Americans first workout since Paul George broke his right leg in a gruesome injury that occurred during an intrasquad scrimmage on Aug. 1 in Las Vegas. Kevin Durant also withdrew from the team last week. Colangelo said he spoke with the team about Georges injury. "I think time heals," Colangelo said after practice. "What took place after a few days is that in checking with all the players, they were all in, looking forward to coming to Chicago and everyone showed and they played really hard today, so were pleased." The U.S. is expected to practice again on Friday, and hosts Brazil in an exhibition at the United Center on Saturday night. Colangelo said Cousins likely wouldnt play for the next couple of days. The roster is at 16 players after Rudy Gay joined the pool following Durants departure. It has to be cut to 12 before the World Cup begins on Aug. 30. ' ' '