The Houston Astros (59-57) were looking to take both this series and the season series from the Toronto Blue Jays (54-61) this afternoon. They had plenty of chances, but in the end squandered their opportunities in a 5-4 loss in 10 innings.
Hunter Brown took the mound today opposite Jameson Taillon, who was making his first start as a Blue Jay. Things seemed to be on the up for Houston, as Brown was dominant early, and had not allowed a hit through 5 innings.
In the bottom of the 3rd, the Astros would
open the scoring. With one out, Jose Altuve launched his 13th HR of the season to left field to give Houston a 1-0 lead. Daulton Varsho would follow with a single, and then steal 2nd base for his 10th SB this season. With 2 out, Christian Walker slammed his 24th double of the season, scoring Varsho to make it s 2-0 lead. LaMonte Wade Jr. would drive in Walker with an RBI single to center to give Houston a 3-0 lead.
That lead looked like it would stand up, as Hunter Brown was dominating. He had not allowed a run or hit through 5 innings, walking one and striking out 7. However that would all change in the top of the 6th.
Brown retired the leadoff hitter Andrew Gimenez, but Myles Straw would follow with a double. Brown retired Nathan Lukes on a groundout to advance Straw to 3rd, but now there were 2 out. Uncharacteristically, Brown could not shut the door. A single to center by Kaz Okamoto would drive in Straw to get the Jays on the board at 3-1. After a mound visit, Brown would surrender a 2-run HR to former Astro Jesus Sanchez on a 3-0 pitch that was well above the zone to tie the game at 3. After getting the final out of the inning, Brown was done for the day.
In the bottom of the 6th, the Astros would have 2nd and 3rd with nobody out and looked poised to answer Toronto’s 3 runs immediately, but they failed to score.
In the top of the 10th, the Jays would strike again. Ernie Clement led off the inning with a 2-run HR off Astros reliever Bennett Sousa (L,0-1), driving in ghost runner Luis Urias to put the Jays up 5-3. It was the first HR Sousa had allowed this season in 13 appearances.
In the bottom of the 10th, the Astros would send Yordan Alvarez, Altuve and Varsho to the plate with Jeremy Pena as the ghost runner. Alvarez drilled a liner into right field to score Pena to make the game 5-4 on what should have been an RBI double. However, Yordan did not slide at 2B, and he was ruled out a second on the throw from Lukes in right field to Gimenez covering the bag. The Astros challenged the call, which was upheld, leading to the ejection of manager Joe Espada. Altuve and Varsho would both fly out to end the game.
The Astros are off tomorrow before traveling to San Diego to begin a 3 game series with the Padres on Friday.
