The Houston Astros’ six-game winning streak came to an end Monday night in a 3-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays at Daikin Park, a game defined by missed chances more than a lack of baserunners.
Cristian Javier, making his first start since July 12, allowed three runs over six innings, striking out seven without issuing a walk. Alejandro Kirk opened the scoring with a solo homer in the second, and Toronto added two more in the fourth on a Jesús Sánchez RBI single and an Ernie Clement sacrifice fly, aided by a throwing error from Taylor Trammell that extended the inning.
Houston had chances throughout but couldn’t convert them. The Astros put a runner on base in each of the first eight innings and had multiple opportunities with men in scoring position, but stranded 13 runners on the night. Their biggest missed opportunity came in the sixth inning, when they loaded the bases after Jeremy Peña’s RBI single scored Yainer Diaz. Toronto intentionally walked Yordan Alvarez to set up the matchup with Isaac Paredes, and reliever Braydon Fisher escaped the jam by getting Paredes to pop out.
Tatsuya Imai, working in relief for the first time since being moved to the bullpen last week, threw three perfect innings and struck out five, retiring the final five batters he faced by strikeout. Toronto closer Tyler Rogers, a submarine-armed reliever, closed out the ninth to secure the save.
Daulton Varsho made his Astros debut just hours after being acquired from Toronto in the trade that sent Spencer Arrighetti to the Blue Jays. Facing his former club, Varsho went 1-for-4 with a walk while batting cleanup, collecting his first hit as an Astro with an infield single in the first inning and nearly beating out another ground ball in the ninth before being thrown out.
Peña extended his hitting streak to 15 games with his sixth-inning RBI single, the longest active streak in the majors and the longest of his career. He’s hitting .422 during the run.
The loss dropped Houston to 58-56 on the season, but the Astros remained in first place in the AL West after the Rangers also lost Monday night to the San Francisco Giants.
Houston will look to begin a new winning streak Tuesday when Hayden Wesneski takes the mound against Blue Jays right-hander Trey Yesavage. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. Central.
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