• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Astros aim to continue mastery of Blue Jays

Jun 5, 2015 - 11:16 AM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Houston Astros aim to continue their recent mastery of the Toronto Blue Jays Friday when they pay a visit to Rogers Centre for the start of a three-game series.

Houston swept a four-game set from the Jays earlier this year and has beaten them seven straight times.

The American League-leading Astros, though, were denied a sweep in their four- game set with the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday, as Adam Jones' eighth inning homer sent them to a 3-2 loss.

Houston failed to take advantage of some opportunities, going 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and had runners at first and third with no outs in both the sixth and seventh innings, but nothing came of it.

"We needed to find a way to scratch a run across," said Astros manager A.J. Hinch. "Some missed opportunities there. It's unfortunate because we had a chance to win the game."

Getting the call for the Astros on Friday will be righty Roberto Hernandez, who is 2-4 with a 4.92 ERA. The Astros, though, have won five of his last seven starts, but Hernandez is a mere 2-2 in that span with a 5.48 ERA.

Hernandez absorbed the loss to Chicago on Sunday, as the White Sox reached him for five runs (4 earned) and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings. He's 3-3 in 11 games (10 starts) versus the Jays with a 4.38 ERA.

Heading to the hill for Toronto on Friday will be young right-hander Aaron Sanchez, who tossed a quality start in his last three trips to the hill. Sanchez did not get a decision on Saturday in Minnesota, but pitched well, allowing a pair of runs in six innings of his team's 3-2 loss.

"I felt like I was out there battling today," said Sanchez, who is 4-4 with a 3.88 ERA. "A little upset I got beat twice on offspeed [pitches]. I thought Russ [Martin] did a really good job behind the dish, sticking with the game plan, was tremendous behind the dish throwing runners out. That's what helped me out a lot, just a tough one today."

Sanchez will be making his first-ever start against the Astros, but has beaten them once in relief.

Toronto enters Friday's opener following a series win over the Washington Nationals that saw them win the final two contests by a 15-3 margin. In Wednesday's finale, Mark Buehrle threw his 10th career shutout, as the Blue Jays rolled to an 8-0 win.

Buehrle (7-4) scattered six hits and a walk in recording his second straight complete game. He only needed 93 pitches to silence the Nationals and earn the Blue Jays a series win.

"He gets a lot of ground balls. We hit a lot of them tonight," said Nationals manager Matt Williams.