The Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Houston Astros 5-4 in a 10th-inning contest on Wednesday. Ernie Clement hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning, which proved to be the decisive play for the Blue Jays.
The game saw the automatic runner on second base as the 10th inning began. Clement connected with the first pitch from Bennett Sousa, sending it into left field to give Toronto the lead. Houston responded in the bottom of the 10th when Yordan Alvarez’s base hit scored the automatic runner, bringing the Astros within one run. However, Alvarez was then thrown out attempting to stretch his hit into a double. The call was challenged and upheld, leading to the ejection of Astros manager Joe Espada for arguing the decision.
Key moments in the game
Chase Lee secured his first save by retiring Jose Altuve and Daulton Varsho to close out the game. Louis Varland, who struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning, earned the win. Earlier in the game, Jesús Sánchez hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning, contributing to Toronto’s victory and helping them win two of the three games in the series.
Altuve hit a solo homer for the Astros, who were 3-for-9 with runners in scoring position during the game. Houston starter Hunter Brown allowed three hits and three runs over six innings. Brown did not give up a hit until Myles Straw doubled in the sixth inning. Kazuma Okamoto’s two-out single then scored Straw, reducing Toronto’s lead.
Sánchez’s home run, a high fastball into the right field seats, tied the game. Jameson Taillon, making his debut for Toronto after a trade from the Cubs, allowed six hits and three runs in four innings. Altuve initiated the Astros’ scoring with his shot to left field in the third inning. Varsho singled and stole second base before scoring on a two-out double by Christian Walker. LaMonte Wade Jr. followed with an RBI single, extending Houston’s lead earlier in the game.
Series overview
The Blue Jays also secured a 3-1 victory against the Astros on Monday night, snapping Houston’s six-game winning streak. In that game, Alejandro Kirk homered, while Jesús Sánchez and Ernie Clement each contributed an RBI. Shane Bieber allowed nine hits and one run over 5 2/3 innings, with Tyler Rogers earning his third save by pitching a scoreless ninth.
Jose Altuve had two hits in Monday’s game, and Jeremy Peña drove in a run for the Astros. Houston left 13 men on base and did not record an extra-base hit. Cristian Javier, the Houston starter, yielded seven hits and three runs over six innings. Tatsuya Imai made his first career relief appearance for the Astros, striking out five in three hitless innings.
On Tuesday night, the Astros defeated the Blue Jays 7-2. Taylor Trammell hit a three-run homer, and Jose Altuve contributed three hits and two RBIs for Houston. Altuve’s RBI single in the fifth inning scored Yordan Alvarez, and he added another hit in the seventh, along with an infield single in the fourth. Trammell’s homer in the fifth inning was a 388-foot shot over the right field wall. Yainer Diaz and Cam Smith hit back-to-back RBI singles to open the scoring for Houston in the fourth inning.
Astros starter Hayden Wesneski pitched six innings, giving up two runs and four hits while striking out four and walking two. Myles Straw hit an RBI triple in the fifth for the Blue Jays, scoring Andrés Giménez, who then scored on a wild pitch to tie the game at 2-2. Toronto starting pitcher Trey Yesavage left the Tuesday game in the third inning due to left-knee discomfort after throwing a warm-up pitch. Chad Dallas took over, pitching three innings and giving up seven hits and six runs.
The Blue Jays are scheduled to travel to Chicago on Thursday to make up a June 21 game that was postponed due to weather. The Astros have a scheduled off day on Thursday before starting a series in San Diego on Friday night.
Source: tsn.ca
