Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Yusei Kikuchi reacts after giving up a single to New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge during the fourth inning of a baseball game on Friday, June 28, 2024, in Toronto.
12:01 JST, July 4, 2024
Yordan Alvarez hit a solo home run and two RBI doubles as the visiting Houston Astros defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 9-2 on Wednesday night.
Yainer Diaz added three RBIs and went 3-for-4 with a walk to help the Astros take a 2-1 lead in the four-game series.
Houston ran away with four in the seventh and three in the eighth to improve to 4-2 on a 10-game road trip. Toronto fell to 3-4 on an eight-game homestand.
Neither starter played a role in the decision.
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Yusei Kikuchi plays against the New York Yankees during the first inning of a baseball game on Friday, June 28, 2024 in Toronto.
Toronto left-handed pitcher Yusei Kikuchi allowed two runs, five hits and two walks while striking out five in 5 2/3 innings.
Houston right-hander Ronel Blanco allowed two runs, four hits and two walks with four strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. Blanco threw a no-hitter against Toronto on April 1.
The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the first. George Springer ran and took third when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a one-out single to right field, extending his hitting streak to nine games. Bo Bichette followed with a sacrifice fly to center.
Houston tied the score in the third. Chas McCormick singled, took second on Alex Bregman’s two-out walk and scored on Alvarez’s double to center.
Alvarez led off the sixth inning with his 19th home run of the season and third of the series, driving the ball to right field to give the Astros a 2-1 lead.
Tayler Scott (5-2) relieved Blanco in the home sixth inning after Bichette’s two-out double to left. Daulton Varsho tied the score with a single to right, but was thrown out after rounding first base.
McCormick reached first to open the four-run seven when Toronto reliever Zach Pop (0-3) fumbled a check-swing comebacker. Pinch hitter Jon Singleton doubled to right and Jose Altuve hit an RBI single to right.
Jose Cuas replaced Pop and Alvarez was intentionally walked to load the bases. Diaz hit a two-run single to right before Jake Meyers and Jeremy Pena were hit by consecutive pitches, the latter forcing a run.
Bowden Francis allowed two hits before Alvarez hit an RBI double to right with one out in the eighth. Diaz added a run-scoring single, and another run scored on Meyers’ fielder’s-choice grounder.
