HOUSTON -- What do Austin Nola, Austin Adams, Tommy Milone and Matt Carasiti have in common?

Aside from not being known much beyond the Mariners’ clubhouse, the four are recent arrivals who helped Seattle go toe to toe with the Astros on Friday night in a tough 2-1, 10-inning loss at Minute Maid Park, and are helping spearhead a significant uptick in the team’s recent performance.

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Though still in last place in the American League West at 37-49, the Mariners have won six of their past nine games and are 12-10 since June 5. And they’ve done it with a growing number of newcomers.

Here’s how that group contributed Friday in a game the Astros wound up pulling out with a walk-off homer by Yuli Gurriel off rookie reliever Matt Festa.

Nola chips in on both sides
The Mariners took a 1-0 lead in the third on Nola’s first career home run, a 355-foot fly ball into the Crawford Boxes in left field off Wade Miley. Nola, called up from Triple-A after Edwin Encarnacion’s trade to the Yankees 12 days ago, went 2-for-3 with a walk and is batting .385 (5-for-13) in four starts at first base.

After eight seasons in the Minors, the 29-year-old from Louisiana appreciates the opportunity to relish a lot of firsts right now, and that initial long ball won’t be forgotten.

“I had my family here, too, so it was pretty cool to be able to do it here in Houston, so close to my home,” he said. “That was pretty unbelievable.”

First base isn’t even Nola’s natural position as he’s been a converted catcher for the past few years, but the former third baseman is proving to be adroit at first base and made several long running catches as he continued to show his athleticism and versatility.

“Nola played a really nice game,” manager Scott Servais said. “Nice game defensively, had some really good at-bats. He continues to help us out wherever we use him.”

New arm in the ’pen
Adams, acquired by trade from the Nationals in mid-May, continued thriving in clutch relief situations as he wiggled out of a bases-loaded jam by getting Jose Altuve to hit into a force play at home and then striking out Alex Bregman to end the seventh.

Adams has pitched 11 straight scoreless innings over his past 10 appearances with 21 strikeouts. He has a 1.35 ERA in 17 outings since his arrival.

“Huge outing for Austin,” Servais said. “He’s on a good roll right now. He’s got a lot of confidence. He was on the edge, teetering there on a 3-0 count [to Altuve], but was able to induce the ground ball and get us out of a big jam there.”

After successfully dealing with Christian Yelich and the heart of the Brewers’ order the previous two games, it was another big test passed by the 28-year-old, whose gum-chomping, high-energy style on the mound is proving infectious.

“I’ve always pitched with a lot of energy and been a high-strung guy,” Adams said. “But it’s being able to control that and stay present in the moment and just say, ‘What’s the sign? Where is the target?” and go execute the pitch.

“I’m learning a ton,” he said. ‘I’m learning just how to be myself, really, at the big league level. Asking all the veterans here questions. It’s been huge and I’m having a blast. Unfortunately tonight we weren’t able to get the ‘W,’ but I thought everybody pitched great and we played a heck of a game. That’s a really good team over there.”

Rookie comes through as opener again
The Mariners may finally have solved their search for an opener as Carasiti provided a scoreless first inning for the second time in a row in that role.

The 27-year-old rookie gave up two-out singles to Bregman and Michael Brantley, but retired Gurriel on a popup to put up a zero on the scoreboard. That hasn’t been an easy task for the Mariners, who have had five different relievers combine for a 14.63 ERA in nine opener efforts, allowing 13 hits and 13 runs with 12 walks and six strikeouts over eight frames.

But Carasiti -- who signed a Minor League deal with Seattle three weeks ago -- has thrown three scoreless innings since being promoted from Triple-A last Sunday, including the past two as a pseudo starter.

With a fastball sitting at 96-97 mph, the former Cubs farmhand appears a welcome addition to the Mariners’ rebuilding relief crew.

“Matt is throwing the ball well,” Servais said. “He’s got good stuff. He’s got the ability to do different things to get righties and lefties out. His confidence continues to grow.”

Older newcomer contributing, too
The 32-year-old Milone continues playing a large role in the rotation, even though he’s being used mostly as a “follower” in opener situations. But with five scoreless frames behind Carasiti, the lefty lowered his ERA to 2.95 and he again soaked up significant innings.

“The first time I faced them they didn’t have Altuve or Springer,” Milone said. “Those top three guys are the best in the game. To get through them without a lot of damage is pretty good. I feel good about that.”

“It was a real positive night for our pitching staff,” Servais said. “We just didn’t do enough offensively. You’ve got to score in this ballpark to win.”