Eighty games are officially in the books. The Astros have been victorious in 37 of them, after dropping the opening contest of their 7-game road trip in Toronto by a score of 4-2.
Prior to exiting in the 6th inning with an apparent leg injury, Jeremy Pena would start off things on a positive note. Pena led off the game with a single, stole a pair of bases and eventually came around to score on a hit from Isaac Paredes. For Paredes it was his 38th RBI of the season. Houston would threaten further but
Yainer Diaz grounded into an inning ending double play.
After the escape, Jays pitcher Dylan Cease would get on a roll, retiring the next 14 batters he faced. For the night, he’d strike out 8 in total.
In the bottom of the second, Kazuma Okamoto would notch his 17th home run of the year, tying the game at 1-1.
Hunter Brown would grind out three innings of work, delivering 85 pitches. Brown would strike out four, walk two and surrender four hits on the night.
AJ Blubaugh would take the reins in the fourth inning and immediately run into trouble. Andres Gimenez would single, George Springer would walk and then an error by Raynel Delgado would allow Nathan Lukes to reach safely, loading the bases. Vladimir Guerrero would hit a sac fly to bring in Gimenez, and with that the Blue Jays would take their first lead of the evening at 2 to 1.
Unfortunately for the Astros, Jeremy Pena would leave tonight’s game in the top of the 6th mid-at bat. After fouling a ball off, he was removed from the game. He was seen flexing his right leg, which is he same leg he had suffered a hamstring injury on earlier this year. After the game, manager Joe Espada said he had a cramp in his left leg and that was why he was removed.
However, in the top of the 6th, the Astros would tie things up at 2-2 and chase Dylan Cease from the game. Jose Altuve would work some two out magic, bringing home Yordan Alvarez who reached with a walk.
However, it would be short lived as in the bottom of the 7th, Okamoto would do further damage, with a double deep to left field which placed Daulton Varsho to third. Former Astro Myles Straw would then come up and bring in Varsho on a sac fly giving Toronto the lead once again at 3-2.
Brice Matthews and Yordan Alvarez would start the 8th with back-to-back singles, but that momentum quickly evaporated after Christian Walker grounded into a double play.
Toronto would add an insurance run in the 8th on a sac fly from Alejandro Kirk. That would represent their third sacrifice RBI of the game and bring the final result of 4-2. Louis Varland would come on to close things out. For Varland, it’s his 8th save of the month.
Odds & Ends:
Yordan Alvarez would play left field in consecutive games for the first time this season.
Peter Lambert will take the hill tomorrow afternoon with a 3:07 pm first pitch. The earlier start time is due to a World Cup match between Croatia and Panama taking place nearby.
