Yainer Diaz hit a go-ahead home run in the ninth inning Wednesday night and the visiting Houston Astros defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 3-2.
Diaz homered on a 1-1 fastball from Jeff Hoffman (9-7) with one out after the Blue Jays (83-62) tied the game in the eighth. Diaz had an RBI double in the first.
Carlos Correa also homered for the Astros (79-67), who squared the three-game series.
Houston took a 1-0 lead in the second against Jose Berrios after Jesus Sanchez led off with a walk, stole second, and scored on Diaz’s double into the right-field corner.
Toronto mounted a threat against Houston starter Jason Alexander in the bottom of the inning when Addison Barger walked with two out and Ernie Clement doubled. Joey Loperfido ended the inning on a foul out to third.
Alexander retired eight in a row before Clement singled to center with one out in the fifth, the second Toronto hit of the game. But he was caught stealing when Loperfido struck out.
Berrios retired seven straight before Correa lined a 1-1 changeup to left for his 200th career home run, his 13th of the season and second of the series. Braydon Fisher replaced Berrios, who allowed two runs, five hits and one walk while striking out four in 5 1/3 innings.
Alexander allowed no runs, three hits and one walk with three strikeouts over seven innings.
Correa singled and Christian Walker walked with two out in the eighth against Louis Varland. Brendan Little took over and walked pinch-hitter Cam Smith before ending the inning on a fielder’s choice grounder.
Houston’s Steven Okert allowed a leadoff infield single to pinch-hitter Isiah Kiner-Falefa in the home eighth. Pinch hitter Ty France singled with one out and Myles Straw ran for him. Andres Gimenez hit an RBI single to right.
Enyel De Los Santos (6-3) replaced Okert with runners at the corners and struck out George Springer before Nathan Lukes singled in the tying run.
Bryan Abreu pitched a perfect ninth to earn his fifth save.
Houston put right-hander Luis Garcia on the injured list and recalled right-hander Nick Hernandez from Triple-A before the game.
–Field Level Media
