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Houston Astros suffer 7-2 loss in Toronto; extend skid to three
By David Miniel
Final. 7. 39. 2. 135
Blue Jays double down Astros
The Toronto Blue Jays found yet another way to outdo the Houston Astros Saturday afternoon, scoring four runs over the first two innings of the ball game, handing the visiting team a 7-2 loss.
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Today’s five-run blowout extended their skid to three games. Not only did the loss continue their skid, but they’ve managed to record two runs in each of their previous three defeats.
Just like Roberto Hernandez in yesterday’s contest, the Blue Jays (27-30) attacked starter Brett Oberholtzer early and often. Oberholtzer (0-1, 3.75 ERA) made a brief outing, exiting after 3 2/3 frames with four runs, two earned on six hits with three walks and two strikeouts, but did not give up a big fly to the middle of this dangerous lineup.
Houston would find themselves falling behind yet again on an RBI single by Edwin Encarnacion in the bottom half of the first inning. Toronto would bust things open in the very next inning, hanging a three spot which forced Oberholtzer out of the game.
Kevin Pillar got things going with an RBI single to center field, allowing Danny Valencia to come around to score. Jose Reyes – who homered in yesterday’s game – later followed that up with an RBI single of his own, sending Pillar to third base with only one out in the inning.
Pillar would later drive in a run on an RBI double to left field which made it a 5-1 contest in the fifth. Jose Altuve finally got Houston (34-23) on the board in the third by knocking in Marwin Gonzalez with a single of his own.
Toronto’s starter, Drew Hutchison, provided a quality start for the home team. In 6 1/3 frames, Hutchison (5-1, 4.91 ERA) held the Astros to just one earned run on six hits while posting a 5/1 K/BB ratio. This staff would combine for only two earned runs with 10 strikeouts between five arms used by skipper John Gibbons.
With reliever Steve Delabar on the mound, Jonathan Villar recorded his first home run of the season in the top of the eighth, cutting the lead down to three runs. Justin Smoak would eventually extend the lead on a two-run double in the bottom half of the same inning.
Houston will look to avoid the series sweep tomorrow afternoon as Collin McHugh (6-2, 4.33 ERA) squares off against veteran R.A. Dickey (2-6, 5.53 ERA) with the first pitch scheduled for 12:07 p.m. central time.