Blue Jays hit three homers to defeat Astros
TORONTO -- Troy Tulowitzki, Russell Martin and Edwin Encarnacion hit home runs, Marcus Stroman pitched into the seventh inning and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Houston Astros 9-2 on Sunday afternoon.
Tulowitzki had three RBIs as the Blue Jays (67-51) won the rubber match of the three-game series to maintain their lead in the American League East.
Jason Castro homered for the Astros (61-57).
Stroman (9-5) allowed five hits and two runs (one earned) with eight strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings.
Astros starter Mike Fiers (8-6) allowed seven hits, including two home runs, two walks and five runs in 4 2/3 innings. The right-hander struck out seven.
The Blue Jays scored once in the first after Devon Travis led off with a double, was sacrificed to second by Josh Donaldson and came home on a two-out single by Tulowitzki.
The Astros tied the game in the second with an unearned run.
Carlos Correa led off with a single to extend his hitting streak to a career-best 10 games.
Marwin Gonzalez was hit by a pitch on the left knee. He stayed in game the game to run the bases before being replaced by Tyler White at first base in the bottom of the second. Gonzalez was listed as day to day with a bruised knee.
With two outs, Teoscar Hernandez was given credit for an infield single when Sroman fielded the ball to the left of the mound. Stroman then tried a jump throw that went wide of first for an error that allowed Correa to score.
The Blue Jays took a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning on an RBI single by Darrell Ceciliani.
It scored Tulowitzki, who led off with an infield single and took second when Martin walked, Ceciliani's hit came with two out. Right fielder George Springer was charged with an error when he let the ball get past him and let Ceciliani take second as Martin moved to third. Travis grounded out to end the inning.
Back-to-back, two-out homers by Tulowitzki and Martin in the fifth gave Toronto a 5-1 lead and sent Fiers from the game.
Encarnacion doubled with one out and scored on the 20th homer of the season by Tulowitzki. Martin followed with his 10th homer of the season and second in two games to put Toronto ahead 5-1.
Left-hander Tony Sipp replaced Fiers.
Castro led off the top of the seventh with his seventh homer of the season to cut the lead to 5-2.
With one out, Joaquin Benoit replaced Stroman and gave up singles to Tony Kemp and Springer. Martin, the Blue Jays catcher, made a spectacular catch by reaching over the Astros' dugout barrier on a foul by Alex Bregman for the second out. Jose Altuve lined out to third to end the inning.
Encarnacion hit his 33rd homer of the season with one out in the seventh against Luke Gregerson to restore the four-run lead.
Jason Grilli pitched a perfect eighth for Toronto.
The Blue Jays added three runs in the bottom of the eighth. Martin led off with a single against Michael Feliz. Justin Smoak walked and Melvin Upton Jr. hit an RBI single. Travis singled to load the bases with one out. James Hoyt replaced Feliz and walked Donaldson to force in a run. Encarnacion hit a sacrifice fly.
Toronto left-hander Brett Cecil pitched a perfect ninth.
NOTES: Blue Jays 2B Devon Travis was 0-for-4 Saturday to end an eight-game hitting streak. He batted .457 (16-for-35) during that span. ... The Astros announced that they have extended their player-development contract with the Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies for two more seasons, which will run through 2018. ... Toronto RHP R.A. Dickey (8-12, 4.61 ERA) will start the opener of a three-game series against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Monday. New York's starter has not been named. Toronto plays its next six games on the road. ... The Astros have Monday off before playing two games against the St. Louis Cardinals at Minute Maid Park before embarking on a seven-game trip. Houston LHP Dallas Keuchel (7-11, 4.56 ERA) will face St. Louis LHP Jaime Garcia (9-8, 3.93 ERA) on Tuesday in the opener.