Ex-Blackhawks Execs Reinstated From NHL Ban
TORONTO -- — Hunter Brown pitched six shutout innings, Jeremy Peña and Yordan Alvarez hit home runs and the Houston Astros beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-1 on Monday afternoon for their 10th win in 11 games.
After going 4-0 with a 1.16 ERA in five June starts, Brown (6-5) opened July with another solid outing. The right-hander allowed two hits, both singles. He walked three and struck out five.
“It couldn’t happen to a better guy,” Peña said. “He prepares really well and he goes out there and competes.”
Decked out in special red jerseys and caps, the Blue Jays lost on the Canada Day holiday for a second year in a row.
After Rafael Montero worked a 1-2-3 seventh inning, the Blue Jays loaded the bases against Bryan Abreu in the eighth. Abreu escaped by getting Daulton Varsho to ground out.
“You can have him against the ropes but he’s going to figure out a way to get people out,” Astros manager Joe Espada said of Abreu. “That’s just Bryan. He’s so good, his stuff is so explosive.”
Josh Hader allowed a solo home run to Ernie Clement in the ninth but finished for his 13th save in 14 chances.
Clement’s homer off Hader was his fourth of the season.
Toronto left eight runners on base, twice leaving the bases loaded. They finished 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position.
“We just needed a hit in certain spots,” manager John Schneider said.
The Blue Jays used a single and two walks to load the bases with one out in the second but Brown got Clement to pop up before striking out Kevin Kiermaier.
“The first two innings I wasn’t executing at the clip I wanted to,” Brown said. “I was able to bear down and make some pitches early in an at-bat that kind of forced them to swing at some stuff.”
The Blue Jays have played 36 innings against the Astros this season and scored in just two of them. Toronto won 2-1 on April 2 when Davis Schneider hit a two-run home run off Hader in the ninth inning.
Houston’s Ronel Blanco threw a no-hitter against Toronto on April 1, and five Astros pitchers combined on a one-hit win over the Blue Jays on April 3.
Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was scratched from the lineup Monday because of pain in his right hand. Guerrero was hit on the fingers by a 96 mph fastball from Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole in the third inning of Sunday’s loss to New York.
Toronto right-hander Yariel Rodríguez retired his first 14 batters before Peña hit a first-pitch homer in the fifth inning for his sixth of the season.
“I was just looking for a good pitch to hit and put a barrel on it,” Peña said.
Rodríguez (0-3) allowed one run and two hits in a career-high 6 2/3 innings. He walked two and struck out six.
Alvarez gave the Astros some insurance with a two-run shot off Zach Pop in the ninth. The homer was his 17th.
ROSTER MOVES
Blue Jays: Toronto put catcher Danny Jansen on the paternity list and recalled catcher Brian Serven from Triple-A Buffalo.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Astros: 2B Jose Altuve got the day off. … Right-hander Justin Verlander (neck) resumed throwing over the weekend but there is no timetable for his return, Espada said.
Blue Jays: INF Spencer Horwitz moved from second base to replace Guerrero, and Clement came in to play third. … INF Isiah Kiner-Falefa was scratched from the lineup after his left knee felt sore during pregame warmups. Kiermaier came in to play center, Varsho moved from center to left, and Davis Schneider went from left field to second.
UP NEXT
Blue Jays RHP José Berríos (7-6, 3.38 ERA) is scheduled to start Tuesday night against Astros RHP Spencer Arrighetti (4-6, 5.68).
------
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
116 1165229 Gucci Mane Ice Cream Cone Png Gucci Mane 330db437904d75a0028eb6b241822609 Il 794xN.1625791662 Mjm3 Gucci Mane Maxresdefault Il Fullxfull.2316709414 54sy Gucci Mane Ice Cream Tattoo Il 570xN.1673217983 Fizm C445d87029b691c953a32376f001b956 Gucci Mane Ice Cream Lay Downs Maxresdefault 5d08e95a0a750f9e0da977c349627732 NTHdjXzZR2aPQhlM3OIUIl 340x270.3031984820 Fh7e Maxresdefault Keyshia KaOir Gucci Mane2020 Grammy Awards Rc Billboard 1548 Gdasfasdf Gucci Mane Gucci Mane Ice Cream Man 2 20374397 362b59bf 9ff2 4766 8f2b 571024a6edaa D78f39bcda0d3c25f368873e447b2a71 Gucci Mane Keyshia 70 1 083e8087b09322591a403bb25ac50184 15447345409118 E1544734678736 ?w=1024&quality=80&strip=all&h=90338998a65f699ca3cc8da4b947c85d444 Hero Image.fill.size 1248x702.v1623365749 671cfa9eecf5404dfe86364aca30280d Image 2563 72662387d7af3c030bac63507c728292 Maxresdefault 76 760077 Gucci Mane Ice Cream Cone Png Transparent Png