Astros beat Blue Jays for 10th win in 11 games | The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

TORONTO — Hunter Brown pitched six scoreless innings, Jeremy Pena and Yordan Alvarez hit home runs and the Houston Astros beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-1 on Monday afternoon for their 10th victory in 11 games.

After going 4-0 with a 1.16 ERA in five starts in June, Brown (6-5) opened July with another solid outing. The right-hander allowed two hits, both singles. He walked three and struck out five.

“It couldn’t have happened to a better guy,” Pena said. “He prepares really well and he goes out there to compete.”

Wearing special red jerseys and caps, the Blue Jays lost on Canada Day for the second straight year.

After Rafael Montero went 1-2-3 in the seventh inning, the Blue Jays loaded the bases against Bryan Abreu in the eighth. Abreu got out by getting Daulton Varsho to ground out.

“You can have him against the ropes, but he’s always going to find a way to get people out,” Astros manager Joe Espada said of Abreu. “That’s just Bryan. He’s so good, his game is so explosive.”

Josh Hader allowed a solo home run to Ernie Clement in the ninth inning, but finished with his 13th save in 14 chances.

Clement’s home run off Hader was his fourth of the season.

Toronto left eight runners on base, leaving the bases loaded twice. They finished 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position.

“We just needed a hit in some spots,” Toronto manager John Schneider said.

The Blue Jays used a single and two walks to load the bases with one out in the second, but Brown got Clement to walk before retiring Kevin Kiermaier.

“The first two innings, I wasn’t as fast as I wanted to be,” Brown said. “I was able to focus and throw some balls early in the game that kind of forced them to hit some balls.”

The Blue Jays have played 36 innings against the Astros this season and scored in just two of them. Toronto won 2-1 on April 2 when Davis Schneider hit a two-run home run off Hader in the ninth inning.

Houston’s Ronel Blanco threw a no-hitter against Toronto on April 1, and five Astros pitchers combined for a one-hit victory against the Blue Jays on April 3.

Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was scratched Monday with a sore right hand. Guerrero was hit in the knuckles by a 96 mph fastball from Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole in the third inning of Sunday’s loss to New York.

Toronto right-hander Yariel Rodriguez retired his first 14 batters before Pena homered on the first pitch in the fifth inning for his sixth of the season.

“I was just looking for a good pitch to hit and put a barrel on it,” Pena said.

Rodriguez (0-3) allowed 1 run and 2 hits in a career-high 6 2/3 innings. He walked two and struck out six.

Alvarez gave the Astros some insurance with a two-run hit off Zach Pop in the ninth inning. The home run was his 17th.

Toronto placed receiver Danny Jansen on the paternity list before the game and recalled receiver Brian Serven from Class AAA Buffalo.

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve was off, while Astros right-hander Justin Verlander (neck) returned to action over the weekend. No timetable has been set for his return, Espada said.

Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña (3) is congratulated by manager Joe Espada, left, after hitting a solo home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during a fifth-inning baseball game in Toronto, Monday, July 1, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez, right, celebrates in front of Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk, left, as he crosses the plate after hitting a two-run home run during a baseball game in the ninth inning in Toronto, Monday, July 1, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Houston Astros’ Jeremy Peña hits a solo home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during a fifth-inning baseball game in Toronto, Monday, July 1, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Houston Astros pitcher Hunter Brown pitches against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Monday, July 1, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez celebrates with teammates after hitting a two-run home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during a baseball game in the ninth inning in Toronto, Monday, July 1, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Fans watch a huge Canadian flag unfurl before the start of a baseball game between the Houston Astros and Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto, Monday, July 1, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Yariel Rodriguez retrieves a ground ball before retiring Houston Astros outfielder Yordan Alvarez, right, during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Monday, July 1, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Yariel Rodriguez pitches against the Houston Astros during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Monday, July 1, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier jumps to catch a fly ball from Houston Astros’ Jeremy Pena during the second inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Monday, July 1, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)