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TORONTO – These are tough times to be a Toronto Blue Jay.
Yordan Alvarez hit a solo homer and two RBI doubles on Wednesday as the Houston Astros defeated Toronto 9-2, handing the Blue Jays their 11th loss in 15 games as Major League Baseball’s July 30 trade deadline approaches.
Starter Yusei Kikuchi allowed two runs and struck out five in 5 2/3 innings, ending with a no decision as Toronto’s bullpen gave up seven runs between the seventh and eighth innings.
“It’s a difficult time for all of us, not only for the outfield players but also for me,” Kikuchi said through translator Yusuke Oshima. “I’m going there with mixed feelings.
“I just don’t know what’s going to happen (before the transfer deadline). It’s just a difficult time right now.”
Zach Pop of Brampton, Ontario, Jose Cuas, Brendon Little and Bowden Francis came out of Toronto’s bullpen, with Pop suffering the loss after allowing three runs.
Bo Bichette hit a sacrifice fly and Daulton Varsho added an RBI single to keep the Blue Jays (39-47) in the lead through six innings.
“We came in with the mentality that we wanted to get to the World Series and win it,” Kikuchi said. “It’s tough, just thinking about that.
“But all we can do is prepare and just be ready for every game we play.”
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Yainer Diaz had three runs batted in on a 3 for 4 night at the plate for Houston (44-42). Jose Altuve had the go-ahead RBI single and Jake Meyers drove in another run with a fielder’s choice.
Starter Ronel Blanco gave up two runs on four hits and two walks. He struck out four batters over 5 2/3 innings of work.
Tayler Scott, Bryan Abreu, Bryan King and Rafael Montero came out of the bullpen for Houston, with Scott picking up the win.
George Springer led off the first for Toronto with a walk and advanced to third on Guerrero’s single. Bichette then hit a sacrifice fly to deep center field, pushing Meyers to the warning track, allowing Springer to sprint home.
“You really have to try to capitalize on mistakes,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “(Blanco) didn’t make a lot of them. He was good tonight.”
Alvarez doubled to deep left field to score Chas McCormick and tie the game at 1-1, then Diaz got a two-out walk to load the bases. Kikuchi induced a Meyers pop fly to end the inning without causing more damage.
The Astros slugger struck again in the sixth inning, on the first pitch he saw of the inning. Alvarez hit a 95.1 mph four-seam fastball 395 feet to deep right field. His 19th homer of the season gave Houston a 2-1 lead.
Varsho tied the score for Toronto in the sixth with his single to right field, scoring Bichette from second base. Varsho stumbled running to second and was then eliminated running back to first, but Bichette’s run still counted.
A rally by the Astros in the seventh inning put the game out of reach.
Altuve, who was booed every time he came to bat by the Rogers Centre crowd of 28,570 for his role in Houston’s sign-stealing scandal, singled to right field, scoring McCormick from third base and moving pinch-hitter Jon Singleton to third with no outs.
Alex Bregman struck out and Alvarez was intentionally walked to load the bases. Diaz took full advantage with a single to right field that brought in Singleton and Altuve.
Cuas then threw pitches to Meyers and Pena, reloading the bases. The second strike brought Alvarez across the plate and Houston took a 6-2 lead.
“Trying to get a ground ball with a sinker in it and not finding it,” Schneider said. “Those were some weird throws.”
The Astros scored more runs in the eighth inning. Alvarez drove in Singleton with an RBI double, Diaz followed that up with a single to score Bregman, and finally Meyers hit a fielder’s choice to bring in Alvarez.
OP DEK — Chris Bassitt (7-6) will start in Thursday night’s afternoon game as Toronto closes out its four-game series against Houston.
The Astros counter with Framber Valdez (6-5).
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 3, 2024.
© 2024 The Canadian Press
