Houston Astros extend July 4 winning streak in Canada

The Houston Astros had a very good week north of the border, winning three of four games against the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Astros opened their four-game series at Rogers Centre with a 3-1 victory Monday, spoiling Canada Day for Blue Jays fans thanks to six shutout innings from Hunter Brown. Although Houston lost Tuesday, it nearly overcame a 7-0 deficit, turning an eventual loss into a one-run game.

The Astros bounced back with a 9-2 victory Wednesday, as the batters exploded for 11 hits, including two doubles and a home run by star slugger Yordan Alvarez. They wrapped up the series with a 5-3 victory Thursday, as Framber Valdez and the bullpen gritted their teeth, keeping Toronto off the board over the final eight innings.

Houston has now won its last eight games on July 4 and has not lost on the holiday since 2015.

The Astros just haven’t lost much lately, no matter what day it is. They’ve now won 12 of their last 14 games and have won six straight series, moving to within two games of the AL West’s first-place Seattle Mariners. Since the start of June, Houston is 20-9 with a plus-52 run differential.

After a rough start to the season, the Astros are once again looking like the team that hasn’t missed the ALCS since 2016. Even more impressive, Houston has managed to do it without Justin Verlander and Kyle Tucker, both of whom have been injured since early June.

With both players back after the All-Star break, the Astros just have to hold on a little longer. They finish their road trip against the Minnesota Twins before wrapping up the first half of the season with a six-game home series against the Miami Marlins and Texas Rangers, both of whom are well below .500.

The way Houston is playing, it could be in first place by July 14.