The Houston Astros dropped their series to the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday, falling 5-4 in 10 innings at Daikin Park to finish their six-game homestand 4-2 and slip to 59-57.
Houston built an early cushion against Blue Jays starter Jameson Taillon. Jose Altuve opened the third with a solo homer, and the Astros tacked on two more in the frame, Daulton Varsho singling and stealing second before scoring on a Christian Walker double, with LaMonte Wade Jr. driving in Walker right behind him to make it 3-0.
Hunter Brown carried that lead through five scoreless innings, flirting with a no-hitter before Toronto finally broke through in the sixth. Myles Straw doubled to start the frame, Kazuma Okamoto singled him home, and Jesús Sánchez, dealt to Toronto by Houston earlier this season, tied it with a two-run shot. Brown finished with six innings, three runs, three hits, and eight strikeouts.
The Astros had a golden chance to answer immediately, loading the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the sixth, but couldn’t capitalize. Houston then went scoreless over its final three regulation innings, while Steven Okert, Bryan Abreu, and Josh Hader kept the Blue Jays off the board. Abreu also recorded his 500th career strikeout as an Astro before Bennett Sousa took over in the 10th.
Ernie Clement settled the game with one swing, launching a two-run homer off Sousa to open the inning. Houston answered in the bottom half when Yordan Alvarez singled home the automatic runner to cut the deficit to one, then was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a double. The call stood after review and prompted Joe Espada’s ejection. Jose Altuve’s flyout two batters later ended the comeback attempt.
Houston is off Thursday before beginning a six-game road trip through San Diego and San Francisco. Ronel Blanco and Peter Lambert are lined up for the first two games against the Padres, with Cristian Javier expected to start Sunday’s series finale. Friday’s opener at Petco Park is scheduled for 8:40 p.m. Central.
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