Baseball

Yusei Kikuchi Allows Two Runs in 5 2/3 Innings; Astros Beat Blue Jays 9-2

Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Yusei Kikuchi reacts after giving up a single to New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, June 28, 2024, in Toronto.

Reuters

12:01 JST, July 4, 2024

Yordan Alvarez had a solo home run and two RBI doubles as the visiting Houston Astros defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 9-2 on Wednesday night.

Yainer Diaz added three RBIs while going 3-for-4 with a walk to help the Astros take a 2-1 lead in the four-game series.

Houston pulled away by scoring four in the seventh and three in the eighth to improve to 4-2 on a 10-game road trip. Toronto fell to 3-4 on an eight-game homestand.

Neither starter factored into the decision.

Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Yusei Kikuchi works against the New York Yankees during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, June 28, 2024, in Toronto.

Toronto left-hander Yusei Kikuchi allowed two runs, five hits and two walks with five strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.

Houston right-hander Ronel Blanco gave up two runs, four hits and two walks with four strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. Blanco threw a no-hitter against Toronto on April 1.

The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the first. George Springer walked and took third when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. delivered a one-out single to right, extending his hitting streak to nine games. Bo Bichette followed with a sacrifice fly to center.

Houston tied the game in the third. Chas McCormick singled, took second on Alex Bregman’s two-out walk and scored on Alvarez’s double to center.

Alvarez led off the sixth with his 19th home of the season, and third of the series, a blast to right that gave the Astros a 2-1 lead.

Tayler Scott (5-2) replaced Blanco in the home sixth after Bichette’s two-out double to left. Daulton Varsho tied the game with a single to right but was thrown out after rounding first base.

McCormick reached first base to open the four-run seventh when Toronto reliever Zach Pop (0-3) fumbled a check-swing comebacker. Pinch hitter Jon Singleton doubled to right and Jose Altuve hit an RBI single to right.

Jose Cuas replaced Pop, and Alvarez was intentionally walked to load the bases. Diaz hit a two-run single to right before Jake Meyers and Jeremy Pena were hit by consecutive pitches, the latter forcing in a run.

Bowden Francis allowed two walks before Alvarez stroked an RBI double to right with one out in the eighth. Diaz added a run-scoring single, and another run scored on Meyers’ fielder’s-choice grounder.