Final
Homers by Escobar and Bautista lift Jays over Astros
May 22, 2011 - 1:41 AMVideo
Jose Bautista blasted a three-run homer in the sixth and added a solo shot in the eighth for the Blue Jays, who dropped the series opener on Friday.
Bautista upped his home run total this season to an MLB-best 18.
"I'm not surprised by the fact that I'm playing well," said Bautista, who is on pace to surpass the career-high 54 homers he hit last season. "Given what happened last year and knowing what I'm capable of doing, I expect to perform at a high level."
Casey Janssen (1-0) relieved Toronto starter Brandon Morrow and tossed a scoreless frame to earn the win. Morrow allowed four runs on nine hits in six- plus innings.
Chris Johnson knocked in three runs for Houston, while Brett Myers (1-4) was tagged for six runs -- five earned -- on eight hits in 6 2/3 innings.
"A couple mistakes and they hit 'em hard," said Myers. "Sometimes you get away with them, which I haven't all year."
Down 4-0, the Blue Jays trimmed their deficit to one on Bautista's drive to left field, then surged ahead in the seventh.
With one out, Eric Thames reached on a ground-rule double. After John McDonald flied out, Jose Molina grounded a single up the middle to plate the tying run. Escobar put Toronto up 6-4 by sending a 1-0 pitch from Myers over the left- field wall.
Jon Rauch came on to close the game for Toronto in the ninth, but was replaced by Octavio Dotel after surrendering a one-out RBI double to Angel Sanchez. Dotel struck out Hunter Pence and retired Carlos Lee on a grounder to third to record his first save of the season.
Houston started the game from where it had left off in the series opener with a two-run first inning. The Astros scored five runs in the final two frames in Friday's come-from-behind win and quickly loaded the bases in their first at- bat Saturday.
Brett Wallace opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly and Johnson, who hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the ninth on Friday, followed with an RBI single to right field.
In the third, the Astros strung together three consecutive two-out hits -- the last one a Johnson single -- to extend their lead to 3-0. Johnson added a sac fly two innings later.
Game Notes
The Blue Jays notched their first-ever win against Houston (1-4)...The Astros haven't won two straight games since winning three in a row April 30-May 3.
- HOUSTON: 5
TORONTO: 7
Final
May 21 3:46 PM - Angel Sanchez doubled to center scoring Michael Bourn with one out. Runner on second and Hunter Pence due up.
Astros 5, Blue Jays 7 Top 9, 1 OutMay 21 3:40 PM - Jose Bautista lead off Home Run 2 (18) to left. Aaron Hill due up.
Astros 4, Blue Jays 7 Bot 8, 0 OutsMay 21 3:26 PM - Yunel Escobar two-out, two-run Home Run (4) to left scored Jose Molina. Corey Patterson due up.
Astros 4, Blue Jays 6 Bot 7, 2 OutsMay 21 3:16 PM - Jose Molina singled to center scoring Eric Thames with two out. Runner on first and Yunel Escobar due up.
Astros 4, Blue Jays 4 Bot 7, 2 OutsMay 21 3:15 PM - Jose Bautista one-out, three-run Home Run (17) to left scored Jose Molina and Yunel Escobar. Aaron Hill due up.
Astros 4, Blue Jays 3 Bot 6, 1 OutMay 21 2:55 PM - Chris Johnson sacrifice fly to center scored Carlos Lee with two out. Runner on first and Clint Barmes due up.
Astros 4, Blue Jays 0 Top 5, 2 OutsMay 21 2:26 PM - Chris Johnson singled to right scoring Carlos Lee with two out. On the play, Brett Wallace advances to second. Runners on first and second with Clint Barmes due up.
Astros 3, Blue Jays 0 Top 3, 2 OutsMay 21 1:55 PM - Chris Johnson singled to right scoring Hunter Pence with two out. On the play, Carlos Lee was thrown out at third to end the inning.
Astros 2, Blue Jays 0 Mid 1May 21 1:24 PM - Brett Wallace sacrifice fly to left scored Michael Bourn with two out. Runners on first and second with Chris Johnson due up.
Astros 1, Blue Jays 0 Top 1, 2 OutsMay 21 1:21 PM - HOUSTON: 0
TORONTO: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
May 21 1:09 PM
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