Jeremy Pena hit a solo home run, Jon Singleton had a two-run single and the visiting Houston Astros defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 5-3 Thursday afternoon.
The Astros took the four-game series 3-1 and are 5-2 on their 10-game road trip. The Blue Jays completed a 3-5 homestand.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was 1-for-4 to extend his hit streak to 10 games for Toronto, while Spencer Horwitz went 3-for-4 with two RBIs.
Houston left-hander Framber Valdez (7-5) allowed three runs, nine hits and two walks while striking out four in six innings. He was helped by four double plays, three on grounders.
Toronto right-hander Chris Bassitt (7-7) allowed four runs, eight hits and four walks (one intentional) in five innings. He struck out three.
Each team scored three in the first.
Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman singled and Yordan Alvarez walked to load the bases for Houston. Yainer Diaz grounded out to first to score a run before Singleton hit a two-run single to center.
George Springer, Danny Jansen and Davis Schneider singled to load the bases with one out for Toronto. Horwitz hit a two-run single to center and Alejandro Kirk stroked an RBI double to left to tie the game. The inning ended when Ernie Clement lined into a double play.
Houston took a 4-3 lead in the fifth. Pena singled with one out, took second on a groundout and scored on Mauricio Dubon’s single.
Pena hit his seventh homer of the season, and his second of the series, with a blast to left against Trevor Richards on a changeup in the seventh.
Tayler Scott replaced Valdez and allowed only a walk in the home seventh. Ryan Pressly followed with a perfect home eighth.
Josh Hader earned his 14th save for Houston, allowing a leadoff single to Horwitz in the ninth before Kirk grounded into a double play. It was the fifth of the game turned by Houston.
Toronto’s Bo Bichette (right forearm contusion) did not play. Leonardo Jimenez started in his place at shortstop and was 0-for-1 with a walk before leaving for a pinch-hitter in his major league debut.
–Field Level Media
