Like Father, Like Son: Arrington II To Penn State
TORONTO -- — Mauricio Dubón hit a tiebreaking single in the fifth inning, Jeremy Peña added a solo home run and the Houston Astros beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-3 on Thursday for their 12th win in 14 games.
"I feel like the team has good vibes right now,” Peña said. “Everyone is showing up with a job to do, which is show up, compete, and win the game. I feel like we’re all on the same page.”
Framber Valdez pitched six innings to win his third straight start as the Astros extended their team-record Fourth of July winning streak to seven.
Yordan Alvarez reached base four times and scored a run as Houston won the four-game series 3-1.
“Our goal is to finish this first half strong and playing our best,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “I feel like we’re there right now. We came out here and we took care of business.”
The Blue Jays have lost 12 of 16.
“Got to pick yourself up and keep going,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. "There’s no giving up, there’s no quitting."
Peña went 2 for 4 with a walk and scored twice. He extended Houston’s lead with a solo homer off Trevor Richards in the seventh inning, his seventh of the season. Peña also homered in Monday’s series opener.
Valdez (7-5) allowed three runs and nine hits. He walked two and struck out four.
“It started not his best but he settled down very nicely,” Espada said.
Tayler Scott pitched the seventh, Ryan Pressley worked the eighth and Josh Hader finished for his 14th save in 15 chances.
Both teams scored three runs in a first inning that produced eight hits and two walks.
Yainer Diaz opened the scoring with a bases-loaded groundout and Jon Singleton followed with a two-run single off Toronto right-hander Chris Bassitt.
Toronto answered with five hits against Valdez in the bottom half. Two runs scored on a bases-loaded single by Spencer Horwitz and Alejandro Kirk added an RBI double.
Peña hit a one-out single in the fifth, advanced on a groundout and scored on Dubón’s single to center.
Bassitt (7-7) allowed four runs and eight hits in five innings to lose for the first time since May 17 against Tampa Bay.
The Blue Jays used a walk and an infield single to put two runners on in the bottom of the fifth, but Astros third baseman Alex Bregman started an inning-ending double play on Danny Jansen’s grounder.
Houston turned five double plays Thursday. Bregman was involved in three, including an unassisted double play to end the first where he caught Ernie Clement’s liner and tagged Horwitz.
“I’ve been playing with him since 2022 and every day on defense he seems to amaze me,” Peña said of Bregman. “He makes plays that I don’t see people make.”
Toronto put the tying run at third base with one out in the sixth but Valdez finished his outing by getting Kirk and Clement to ground out.
The Blue Jays intentionally walked Alvarez to load the bases with two outs in the fourth. Diaz fouled out to end the inning.
“I tell you what, it’s tough to pitch to him right now,” Espada said of Alvarez. “I don’t blame Schneider for intentionally walking him. Right now he’s on fire.”
Alvarez was hit by pitches in the sixth and ninth innings.
ROSTER MOVES
Blue Jays: Jansen was activated off the paternity list and catcher Brian Serven was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Blue Jays: Shortstop Bo Bichette was scratched from the lineup because of a right forearm contusion. The two-time AL hit leader struck out on a pitch that hit him in the arm on Wednesday.
UP NEXT
Astros: Espada said RHP reliever Shawn Dubin will start Friday’s game at Minnesota. RHP Pablo López (8-6, 4.88 ERA) is scheduled for the Twins.
Blue Jays: RHP Kevin Gausman (6-7, 4.75 ERA) is scheduled to start Friday against Mariners RHP Luis Castillo (6-9, 3.87) in the opener of a three-game series at Seattle.
------
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
2024 Business Road Map Timeline Infographic Template Modern Milestone Element Timeline Diagram Vector Infographic 333603 1199 4a0c7e6ef061d0f9ba7812992d17be73 Dfrdnwt B6663cb2 1d86 4d72 8f0c Ac99cbe20929 ?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7InBhdGgiOiJcL2ZcL2JkM2QxY2IxLWYwMjUtNDU5ZS05ZDExLTAxMjYwNWIxYmZjNFwvZGZyZG53dC1iNjY2M2NiMi0xZDg2LTRkNzItOGYwYy1hYzk5Y2JlMjA5MjkucG5nIn1dXSwiYXVkIjpbInVybjpzZXJ2aWNlOmZpbGUuZG93bmxvYWQiXX0.Tm BQPp9qvILYcnW3kWDbrGvvIL1A NryqTHlaRfaVU76f474afb2d55cee6cedbe4cff20b244 Brics Countries Map In The Year 2024 With New Members International Economic Organization Vector Illustration 2RK9NFA 2 Interactive World Maps 600x321 Most Downloaded Apps Worldwide May 2023 World%2Bpopulation%2Bmap%2Band%2Btimeline History Of The World 2jpg Eclipse Map Full Print 64ba71032aea8041337225 Timeline Infogaphic World Map Vector 260nw 1082091551 Timeline World 8 Maps Worldmap 2 1200x412 Timeline Vector Infographic World Map 260nw 270430898 Timeline Vector Infographic World Map 260nw 1213509868 Timeline Vector Infographic World Map 260nw 1370430608 Blog Interactive Map ElJmraN Timeline Infogaphic World Map Vector 260nw 1080726344 632ff54d8250f4c05a896a7f65404e60 Office Timeline Screenshots 5 Visual Powerpoint Timeline Generator Office Timeline Screenshots 1 Visual Powerpoint Timeline Generator Business 2024 Road Map Timeline Infographic Template Modern Milestone Element Timeline Diagram Calendar 4 Quarter Topics Can 267043982 Timeline Vector Infographic World Map 600w 284284169 Map Location Timeline Screenshot Stock Vector Timeline Vector Infographic World Map 1221600763 Timeline Vector Infographic World Map 260nw 281922293 Map Location Timeline Screenshot Timeline Vector Infographic World Map 600w 1248081292 A1QO0k 1wZL E957ccde88dddfc0087cf80566c8ca75 Map Globe World Maps Mobile App Development Timeline 1013x441 Stock Vector Timeline Vector Infographic World Map 1064744639