Ernie Clement hit a tiebreaking two-run home run in the 10th inning on Wednesday afternoon to help the visiting Toronto Blue Jays earn a 5-4 victory over the Houston Astros.
Bennett Sousa (0-1) allowed Clement’s ninth homer, which drove in the automatic runner and gave Toronto a two-run edge.
In the bottom of the 10th, Yordan Alvarez drove in Jeremy Pena with a leadoff single against Chase Lee, but was thrown out by right fielder Nathan Lukes at second for the first out of the inning and a review confirmed the out call. After Astros manager Joe Espada was ejected for arguing, Lee retired Jose Altuve and Daulton Varsho to secure the win and the first save of his major league career.
Louis Varland (4-4) tossed a perfect bottom of the ninth for the Blue Jays, who clinched their third straight series victory. Jesus Sanchez also had a two-run homer for Toronto.
Making his first start since being traded from the Chicago Cubs on Sunday, Jameson Taillon allowed three runs on six hits across four innings, striking out four and walking a pair.
Hunter Brown threw six innings of three-run, three-hit ball for Houston, striking out eight and walking two. Lamonte Wade Jr. had three hits and Altuve homered for the Astros, who saw their lead over the Texas Rangers in the American League West reduced to 1 1/2 games.
Houston struck first in the third, when Altuve belted a 401-foot shot for his 13th homer of the season to give the Astros a 1-0 edge. Varsho followed with a single and stole second before scoring on Christian Walker’s two-out double. Taillon continued to struggle, allowing Wade’s single to extend the margin to three.
Spencer Miles threw two scoreless innings in relief of Taillon.
The Blue Jays evened the score in the sixth. Myles Straw doubled and scored on Kazuma Okamoto’s two-out single. After a mound visit, Brown was tagged for Sanchez’s eighth home run of the season, tying the game at 3-3.
Walker singled and Wade doubled to begin the bottom of the sixth. Miles then retired Yainer Diaz, Nick Allen and Jeremy Pena in order to preserve the tie game.
