Houston Astros vs Toronto Blue Jays Box Score on Jul 06, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Jul 6, 2017

TORONTO -- Russell Martin had three hits, including a home run, Francisco Liriano pitched into the seventh inning, and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Houston Astros 7-4 on Thursday night.

The Blue Jays (40-45) have won three in a row, while the Astros (58-28) had their four-game winning streak halted.

Liriano (5-4) allowed nine hits, one walk and three runs in six-plus innings. The left-hander struck out four. Roberto Osuna pitched a perfect ninth to earn his 22nd save of the season and the 21st in a row.

Marwin Gonzalez homered for the Astros in the second inning and was ejected in the sixth inning after striking out.

Houston's Carlos Beltran hit his 11th homer of the season to lead off the eighth against Ryan Tepera.

Astros starter Lance McCullers Jr. (7-2) allowed six runs (five earned), nine hits and two walks while striking out three in 4 1/3 innings.

Martin hit his ninth homer of the season to greet the third Astros pitcher, Dayan Diaz, in the sixth inning. The blast increased Toronto's lead to 7-2.

Tepera replaced Liriano after Alex Bregman led off the seventh with a double, his third hit and second double of the game. Tepera struck out his first two batters before Jose Altuve broke his bat on an RBI single.

Dominic Leone replaced Tepera with one out in the eighth after Brian McCann was hit by a pitch. After a two-out walk to Bregman, Jeff Beliveau replaced Leone to face pinch hitter Josh Reddick, who flied out to left to end the inning.

Gonzalez led off the second with his 15th homer of the season, a drive to left on a 3-1 two-seam fastball for a 1-0 lead.

The Blue Jays tied the game in the fourth on a two-out RBI single by Steve Pearce. It scored Kendrys Morales, who reached first base on an error by third baseman Bregman, took second on a wild pitch, and moved to third on Troy Tulowitzki's groundout to shortstop.

Houston regained the lead in the top of the fifth on an RBI single by Altuve that followed a leadoff double by Bregman and a one-out single by George Springer.

The Blue Jays scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 6-2 lead.

Josh Donaldson ended an 0-for-15 slump with a two-run single. It scored Jose Bautista, who led off the inning with a single, and Martin, who followed with a single. A passed ball put runners at second and third for Donaldson.

Donaldson scored on a one-out double by Morales. Tulowitzki snapped an 0-for-22 drought with runners in scoring position with an RBI single.

Michael Feliz replaced McCullers and walked Pearce. Feliz was charged with a throwing error on an attempted force out at second on Kevin Pillar's comebacker to the mound to load the bases.

Ryan Goins hit an RBI double to center, and Pearce was out at home as he tried to score on the hit.

NOTES: Astros SS Carlos Correa (left thumb) returned to the lineup Thursday after sitting out the game Wednesday in Atlanta after jamming his thumb on a slide Tuesday. He singled in the first inning Thursday to extend his hit streak to a career-best 14 games, and he finished 1-for-4. ... Astros OF George Springer has 25 homers, the third most by a Houston player before the All-Star break. 1B Lance Berkman set the franchise mark in 2002 with 29. 1B Jeff Bagwell was the other. ... Toronto RHP Aaron Sanchez (0-1, 3.33 ERA), who has been on the disabled list with a split finger nail on his right middle finger, will make his first start since May 29 when he faces Houston RHP Charlie Morton (5-3, 4.06) on Friday. Morton, who has been out due to a right lat strain, will make his first start since May 24.