Berrios earns victory as Blue Jays beat Astros 3-2

TORONTO — José Berríos turned the most recent Blue Jays pitcher to show in a powerful begin in opposition to the Houston Astros.

Brandon Belt had a tiebreaking RBI single, Berríos pitched six innings to win his third straight choice and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Houston Astros 3-2 on Thursday evening.

Alejandro Kirk added an RBI double and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. reached base twice because the Blue Jays took three of 4 from the Astros and gained the season collection 4-3.

Houston misplaced its third straight, matching its longest droop of the season. The Astros additionally misplaced three straight from April 2-4 and once more from May 6-8.

Toronto additionally gained 3-2 Wednesday. Houston is 6-6 in one-run video games.

“Last night was tough but this is tough, too,” Astros supervisor Dusty Baker mentioned.

PHOTOS: Berríos earns victory as Blue Jays beat Astros 3-2

Houston slugger Yordan Alvarez left after one at-bat due to a sore proper indirect. Alvarez grounded out to first base within the first and was changed at DH by Corey Julks when his flip got here up once more within the third.

Berríos (6-4) allowed two runs and 4 hits, walked two and struck out one. Yimi Garcia labored the seventh, Erik Swanson pitched the eighth and Jordan Romano completed for his seventeenth save in 20 possibilities.

After Toronto’s Alek Manoah was chased earlier than finishing the primary inning Monday, the Blue Jays recovered with dominant begins from Kevin Gausman and Chris Bassitt earlier than Berríos wrapped up the finale.

“It starts and ends with starting pitching,” supervisor John Schneider mentioned. “You look at Kev, Chris and José tonight, it puts you in a good spot.”

Toronto gained its main league-leading twelfth recreation when scoring three runs or fewer. The Blue Jays have gained eight of 10 and 10 of 13. Toronto is 7-1 in June after going 11-17 in May.

“We’ve been hitting the ball better,” Kirk mentioned by means of a translator. “Hopefully everything gets together so we can get on a roll.”

Alvarez mentioned he first felt sore when hitting within the cage earlier than the sport, and felt ache once more when he swung and missed on the first two pitches in his lone at bat.

“We’ll evaluate him tomorrow,” Baker mentioned. “That’s a tough blow right there. We’ve just got to regroup and try to figure out how we’re going to win some ballgames and get through this.”

Julks went 1 for two with a stroll and a strikeout.

Toronto’s victory denied Astros left-hander Framber Valdez a fourth consecutive profitable begin. Valdez (6-5) allowed three runs and 4 hits in 5 innings. He walked 4 and struck out 5.

Houston took a 2-0 lead within the second. Alex Bregman led off along with his ninth dwelling run, and a second run scored when Jake Meyers grounded right into a bases-loaded double play.

Toronto took benefit of a trio of walks by Valdez to take the lead with a three-run fifth. Valdez tried to show a double play on Matt Chapman’s bases-loaded grounder, however Chapman was protected at first as Daulton Varsho scored. Kirk adopted with an RBI double and Chapman scored on Belt’s single, however Kirk was thrown out at dwelling plate to finish the inning.

José Abreu and Chas McCormack hit back-to-back singles off Garcia within the seventh however Abreu was caught stealing after straying too far off the bag. Catcher Kirk threw behind Abreu, who was thrown out at third base.

“We lost because of me tonight,” Abreu mentioned. “I take full responsibility.”

Jeremy Peña led off the eighth with a comebacker to the mound however didn’t run arduous to first, permitting Guerrero to get well and tag the bottom after Swanson’s throw sailed excessive.

“The one time you don’t run is the one time he throws wild,” Baker mentioned. “Like I said, we’ve got to regroup and just bust a little harder.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Blue Jays: OF Kevin Kiermaier was hit on the left wrist by a pitch within the second. He stayed in to play protection within the third however was changed by Varsho within the fourth. X-rays didn’t reveal a fracture.

BLUE JAY BASHER

In 41 profession video games in opposition to Toronto, Bregman is batting .304 (49-for-161) with 20 doubles, 9 dwelling runs, and 28 RBI.

TOUGH OPPONENTS

Houston is 19-17 when going through opponents whose report is .500 or higher.

UP NEXT

Astros: RHP Cristian Javier (7-1, 2.84) begins Friday as Houston begins a three-game collection at Cleveland. LHP Logan Allen (3-2, 2.76) goes for the Guardians.

Blue Jays: LHP Yusei Kikuchi (6-2, 4.40) begins Friday as Toronto opens a three-game collection in opposition to Minnesota. RHP Sonny Gray (4-1, 2.15) begins for the Twins.