Game #78 Toronto Blue Jays (37-41) @ Houston Astros (52-28) - game recap

Curtis Granderson hit a pair of solo HR as the Blue Jays knocked off the Astros 6-3 for their 3rd straight victory 

The Blue Jays are facing the  ultimate test this week, defeating the World Series champs, who look poised for another deep run this year. Tonight's pitching matchup featured a potentially highly coveted trade asset in JA Hap against a pitcher who has already no-hit the Blue Jays once and is in the midst of perhaps the best season of his career in Justin Verlander. Oh yeah and the Astros have a couple of all-stars in the field who have been knocking the cover off the ball in Jose Altuve (.342) and Yuli Gurriel (.306). This series has the makings of being a blowout. Here is tonight's game recap.

Game highlights:

• The Blue Jays took the lead in the top of the 1st as Justin Smoak doubled home Yangervis Solarte and Teoscar Hernandez
• The Astros got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Yuli Gurriel singled home Jose Altuve
• The Astros tied it on a solo HR to left by Alex Bregman in the bottom of the 3rd
• The Astros took the lead in the bottom of the 4th on a Bregman single that scored Jake Marisnick
• The Blue Jays tied it in the top of the 5th on a solo HR to right by Curtis Granderson
• JA Happ pitching line: 6IP 7H 3R (all earned) 2BB 4K 104 pitches (67 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays took the lead in the top of the 7th as Curtis Granderson hit his second HR of the game
• Justin Verlander pitching line: 6.2IP 7H 4R (all earned) 2BB 6K 112 pitches (73 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays extended the lead in the top of the 8th on a 2 run blast by Randal Grichuk that also scored Gio Urshela
• Seunghwan Oh pitched a scoreless 9th for his second save of the season
• Final score: Blue Jays 6 Astros 3

My take

• JA Happ certainly didn't have his best stuff today, but he got stronger as the game went on. He escaped jams in the 1st, 3rd and 4th, surrendering just a single run in each of those innings. Happ retired the final 7 batters he faced, which will certainly help his trade value as teams like pitchers who can work out of jams and can pitch effectively when they don't have their "A" stuff.
• The Blue Jays picked up some timely hits in the 7th and 8th innings to give them their third straight victory
• Teoscar Hernandez had a good day at the plate with a double and a pair of singles
• Curtis Granderson contributed with a pair of solo dingers
• Every Blue Jays starter was one base at least once but Russell Martin
• Up next, the Blue Jays look to match their season high win streak with their 4th straight victory. It appears that Blue Jays rookie Ryan Borucki will make his MLB debut in a spot start for the injured Aaron Sanchez. Borucki was scratched from his scheduled start for Buffalo on Sunday. He will be up against Astros righty Charlie Morton