(SportsNetwork.com) - The playoff-hopeful Seattle Mariners aim for a fifth straight win over the Houston Astros on Tuesday night in the middle contest of a three-game series.

After sweeping a three-game set in Houston from June 30-July 2, the Mariners won last night's opener in Seattle 4-1. Brad Miller drove in three runs, including two on a triple in the eighth inning, and Austin Jackson added an RBI.

Seattle won for the sixth time in seven games overall and stayed a half-game up on Detroit for the second wild card position in the American League.

Felix Hernandez tossed six scoreless innings and gave up five hits and four walks while striking out eight. Danny Farquhar pitched a scoreless eighth to pick up the win.

"Felix battled all night," said Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon.

Jose Altuve drove in the only run of the game for the Astros, who came into the contest having been victorious in six of their previous seven games.

Brad Peacock allowed just four hits and a pair of walks while striking out six in five innings.

"Threw a lot of pitches, but those guys over there had some good (at-bats), fouled some pitches off and got my pitch count up," Peacock said. "Felt good the whole game and just tried to battle out there."

Seattle is 9-5 versus Houston this year and give Roenis Elias the start tonight.

Elias snapped a string of three straight losing starts with a solid effort versus the Texas Rangers on Thursday. The left-hander lasted only five innings, but gave up just one run on seven hits and a walk in the 10-2 win.

Elias is 10-12 with a 3.90 earned run average this year and will face the Astros for the second time. The initial encounter came on May 22 and the 26- year-old did not get a decision after giving up one run over 5 1/3 innings.

Rolling right-hander Collin McHugh gets the call for the Astros and is 8-9 with a 2.89 ERA.

McHugh has not lost since July 27, winning four straight decisions over a seven-start span with a 1.79 ERA. He won his second straight outing on Wednesday versus the Los Angeles Angels, holding them to a run on four hits over 7 2/3 innings.

He also struck out eight without giving up a walk in his longest start since going a season-high 8 2/3 frames back on April 27.

McHugh is 1-2 with a 5.40 ERA in three career starts versus the Mariners. That includes a loss on June 30 as he was drilled for five runs over six innings while giving up homers to Miller, Mike Zunino, and Michael Saunders.