Game #158 Houston Astros (100-57) @ Toronto Blue Jays (71-87) - game recap

Alex Bregman hit a 1st inning 2-run HR as the Astros knocked off the Blue Jays 4-1

Lots going on today ahead of this one. The Roberto Osuna assault case wrapped up today with him signing a peace bond after his girlfriend decline to return from Mexico to appear. The Blue Jsys also found out a pair of players seasons are over. Aaron Sanchez had surgery on his ailing finger. The team is hoping he'll be able to participate fully in training camp next year. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is also finished after sustaining a grade II hamstring strain in the 1st inning last night running to 1st. This means Yangervis Solarte will see more playing time in the last 5 games. Sam Gaviglio made his final start of the season tonight. He was looking to end an up and down season on a positive. The Blue Jays were also hoping to prevent the Astros from getting win #100 tonight and being in a position to clinch the AL West title. Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights

• The Astros opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Alex Bregman lined a two-run HR over the left field wall; also scoring George Springer
• The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom of the 3rd on a Billy McKinney solo HR to right
• The Astros added a run in the top of the 6th as Tyler White singled, scoring Marwin Gonzalez
• Three batters later, Yuli Gurriel scored on a sac fly by Evan Gattis
• Sam Gaviglio pitching line: 5IP 6H 4R (3 earned) 2BB 3K 83 pitches (52 for strikes)
• Josh James pitching line: 5IP 4H 1R (earned) 1BB 3K 65 pitches (44 for strikes)
• Roberto Osuna pitched a perfect 9th for his 11th save as an Astro, 20th of the season
• Final score: Astros 4 Blue Jays 1

My Take

• Sam Gaviglio probably didn't have the final start of the season he wanted. Sammy G gave up four runs (one was unearned thanks to a fielding error by Jonathan Davis) on 6 hits while walking 2 over 6 innings and 3 batters. Gaviglio has been inconsistent, pitching better at home than away. It might be worth looking into moving Gaviglio into the bullpen as a long man and keeping him stretched out in case an injury happens.
• The offence today was frustrating. The team was 0-7 with runners in scoring position. The first two innings, the Blue Jays had a double and they could not even advance the runners. They loaded the bases in the 7th, only to have Justin Smoak strike out swinging. Their only run came off a solo HR by Billy McKinney.
• Jonathan Davis committed a fielding error in the 6th that came around to score. Including that error, he was involved in 6 plays defensively in center field. He batted leadoff and was 1-3 at the plate.
• Anthony Alford took over in CF in the 8th. He was involved in 1 play defensively and he did not get an AB.
• Rowdy Tellez started at 1B and batted 3rd.. He was 0-4 at the plate with one strikeout. Tellez was involved in 11 plays defensively
• Dwight Smith Jr. started in LF and was batting 7th. He was 1-4 with a double. Smith Jr. was involved in 5 plays defensively.
• Danny Jansen started at catcher and batted 8th. Jansen was called for catcher interference in the 6th. Luckily, the Astros didn't score any more runs in the inning. Jansen was 0-2 at the plate, including a strikeout. He was also hit by a pitch.
• Richard Urena was the second baseman and he batted 9th today. Urena was involved in 2 plays defensively. He was 1-2 at the plate and also drew a walk.
• Jose Fernandez faced two batters, striking out one and one reached on a fielding error by Jonathan Davis
• David Paulino pitched a scoreless 7th. He allowed a leadoff single
• Mark Leiter Jr. pitched a scoreless 8th, allowing a 2 out triple
• Taylor Guerreri pitched a perfect 9th, striking out one batter
• Up next, the Blue Jays wrap up the home portion of the schedule. They will finish below .500 at home (they currently have a 39-41 record at the Roger's Center). Sean Reid-Foley makes his final start of the season against an unannounced Astros starter.