HOUSTON, TX — Ernie Clement delivered the decisive swing of the night, launching a two-run home run in the top of the 10th inning to lift the Toronto Blue Jays to a dramatic 5-4 victory over the Houston Astros on Wednesday and secure a series win.
With the game tied at 3-3 entering extra innings, Toronto began the 10th with the automatic runner on second base. Clement wasted no time, driving the first pitch he saw from reliever Bennett Sousa deep into left field for a two-run homer that gave the Blue Jays a 5-3 advantage.
Houston answered in the bottom half of the inning when Yordan Alvarez singled to bring home the automatic runner, cutting the deficit to one run. Looking to spark a bigger rally, Alvarez attempted to stretch the hit into a double but was thrown out on the play.
The Astros challenged the call, but after video review, the ruling on the field stood. Houston manager Joe Espada was immediately ejected after continuing to argue with the umpiring crew.
Toronto reliever Chase Lee then slammed the door, retiring Jose Altuve and Daulton Varsho to earn the first save of his major league career.
Louis Varland pitched a scoreless ninth inning to improve to 4-4 on the season.
Toronto rallied from a three-run deficit thanks in large part to Jesús Sánchez, whose sixth-inning, two-run home run erased Houston’s early advantage and helped the Blue Jays capture two of the three games in the series.
The Astros built a 3-0 lead behind Jose Altuve, who opened the scoring with a solo home run in the third inning. Christian Walker later doubled home Daulton Varsho before LaMonte Wade Jr. followed with an RBI single to extend Houston’s lead.
Astros starter Hunter Brown dominated through the first five innings, holding Toronto hitless until Myles Straw doubled with one out in the sixth. Kazuma Okamoto followed with an RBI single before Sánchez tied the game with a towering two-run homer to right field.
Making his Blue Jays debut after being acquired from the Chicago Cubs before the trade deadline, Jameson Taillon allowed three earned runs on six hits over four innings. Although his outing was brief, Toronto’s bullpen combined to keep Houston scoreless over the next five innings before the Astros managed their lone run in the 10th.
Houston finished 3-for-9 with runners in scoring position but was unable to capitalize late as Toronto’s bullpen delivered in key situations.
The Blue Jays now head to Chicago for a makeup game Thursday against the Cubs. Right-hander Dylan Cease (7-5, 2.41 ERA) is scheduled to start for Toronto against Chicago’s David Peterson (6-7, 5.52 ERA) in a game originally postponed because of inclement weather on June 21.
Houston will enjoy an off day before beginning a road series Friday night against the San Diego Padres.
