Blue Jays rally late to sweep Astros
TORONTO -- Chris Colabello extended his hitting streak to 17 games with a dramatic walk-off single in the ninth inning as the Blue Jays capped a dramatic 7-6 victory and a sweep of the Astros on Sunday afternoon at Rogers Centre to extend their winning streak to a season-high five games.
Colabello, who was hitless in three at-bats prior to the ninth inning, stepped to the plate with runners on second and third. With a drawn-in infield and one out, Colabello hit a perfectly placed single up the middle, as both runners came around to score and Astros closer Luke Gregerson was charged with his second blown save of the year.
"It's crazy, this game is crazy, that's why you keep playing, play 27 outs on both sides of the ball," said Colabello, who matched Jose Altuve for the longest hitting streak in the big leagues this season. "It's good to have one go our way every now and then."
Jose Bautista belted a pair of solo shots for his 24th multi-homer game of his career. Jose Reyes finished with a pair of hits and a run scored while knuckleballer R.A. Dickey didn't factor into the decision despite only allowing two runs over 5 2/3 innings.
Video: HOU@TOR: Marisnick belts a solo shot in the 3rd
Jake Marisnick homered for the Astros and Evan Gattis hit a key two-run double, but it wasn't enough. Gregerson blew a save for the first time since April 24 and right-hander Collin McHugh took a no decision after allowing three runs in six innings.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Bizarre play in 9th swings game: Bautista hit what should've been a routine popup to second base in the ninth, but as the ball fell in directly over the bag -- where Reyes stood -- Astros shortstop Jonathan Villar couldn't make the play. That allowed Bautista -- the eventual winning run -- to reach base. That led to a lengthy conference between the umpire crew before Colabello walked to the plate and cracked his winning hit. More >
Video: HOU@TOR: Bautista singles as Villar runs into Reyes
Donaldson's costly error: With Houston trailing, 3-2, and threatening in the seventh inning with a pair of runners on and none out, reliever Bo Schultz induced a chopper to third off the bat of Jose Altuve. Third baseman Josh Donaldson made a leaping grab, but his throw to second base soared over the head of Ryan Goins and into right field. One run scored and two more were added, when Gattis hit a double to left-center field. Houston would go on to tack on an additional run.
Homers haunt McHugh: The Astros' righty gave up his second homer of the afternoon, when Russell Martin swatted a two-run, go-ahead blast in the fourth inning to give the Blue Jays a one-run lead. It was the second homer that McHugh allowed, after Bautista went deep in the first. McHugh has given up 10 homers since May 1 after going all of April without allowing any. McHugh has had a history of trouble with Martin. The Blue Jays' catcher was 2-for-3 against McHugh on the day, improving to 4-for-6 lifetime against the Houston starter. More >
Video: HOU@TOR: Martin crushes a two-run homer off McHugh
Bautista blasts: Bautista put the Blue Jays in front early with a solo shot off McHugh in the first inning. Bautista's 10th homer of the year came on a 2-1 pitch and went over the wall in left-center field. Toronto's slugger added another solo shot in the seventh off right-hander Will Harris. Bautista has four homers in his last four games and is now riding an 11-game hitting streak, which is one away from his career high. More >
Video: HOU@TOR: Bautista cranks two solo homers in win
QUOTABLE
"I've played this game for 19 years and never seen a play like [that] ... when Bautista hit that ball and it came down right on top of second base. When that happened, we were all looking at each other like it's probably destiny that we're going to pull this one off." -- Dickey, on Bautista's popup in the ninth inning that set the stage for Colabello's walk-off single.
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
The Blue Jays completed a three-game sweep against a team with a winning record for the first time since June 3-5, 2014. It was the club's second sweep of the year and the Blue Jays have now won a season-high five games in a row.
STROMAN'S SHOW
Blue Jays right-hander Marcus Stroman was in attendance for his bobblehead day and chose one lucky fan to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Stroman, who is currently rehabbing from knee surgery, went outside of Gate 10 prior to Sunday's game against the Astros and randomly selected Padraic Quail to receive the pregame honor.
Video: HOU@TOR: Stroman picks young boy to throw first pitch
WHAT'S NEXT
Astros: Rookie right-hander Lance McCullers will take the mound as the Astros open a three-game series against the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field on Monday at 7:10 p.m. CT. McCullers picked up a complete-game win over the Orioles his last time out -- allowing only one earned run, while striking out 11 without walking a batter. He's averaging 10.87 strikeouts per nine innings through four starts, while tallying a 2-0 record with a 1.88 ERA.
Blue Jays: Right-hander Marco Estrada gets the call on Monday at 7:07 p.m. ET, when the Blue Jays open a three-game Interleague series against the Marlins. Estrada salvaged the night game of a recent doubleheader in Philadelphia by allowing three runs (two earned) over seven strong innings. Estrada is 1-2 with a 6.44 ERA in nine career games against Miami.
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