Houston blasted through the Jays to take game.
Sometimes fans forget what they are watching is a game. A game that most people played at least once as a kid. It's that memory of playing as kid that lingers - the joy and happiness of baseball. It's something that has been forgotten in Astroland for some time now, 400 losses in four seasons will cause to happen. But, today's game brought all those good memories back.
It was a perfect day for baseball, sun setting on a rare 80 degree August day in Houston. There were smiles all a round as Houston looked like they were playing little league. Not to say the Blue Jays are a little league team, but little league type of events happened in the game.
For the third straight game this series, the Jays put a run on the board in the first. Jose Reyes doubled to lead off the game, and Melky Cabrera's attempt to move Reyes over with a bunt - it turned into a single. Nolan Reimold drove home Reyes with a sac-fly.
The Astros would match said run with their own in the bottom of the first with two doubles from Houston's hottest hitters Jose Altuve and Chris Carter. Jason Castro moved Carter to third with a single, and Jon Singleton drove him home with a single of his own. The Astros took a 2-1 lead after the first.
Jose Bautista made sure it didn't last long with a double to score Anthony Gose - who led off the third with a walk. That would be the existent of the Jays offense for the day. Toronto wouldn't get another hit in the final five innings of the game.
Jose Altuve reached base in the fifth with a single. He would later score on a two throwing errors. Altuve took two bases on the first throwing error and took home on the throw to third that skipped away. Altuve speed allowed him to push for an extra on the first error and made the Jays look like little leaguers as he raced home on the second error. Chris Carter added another run with a home run onto the train trackers.
Brett Oberholtzer dealt with a lot of traffic on the basepaths in the first part of the game but he weathered the storm. He showed a distinct impression of confidence on the mound. Obe's final line was 7.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, and 5 strikeouts. Top prospect Michael Foltynewicz replaced Oberholtzer, Folty showed his signature gas touching 99 mph multiple times. Folty retired two batters before walking his third. Bo Porter had seen enough and put Tony Sipp in. Juan Francisco took Sipp's first pitch deep. Robbie Grossman jumped up and snagged the ball in the first row in right, robbing Francisco of his home run.
The Astros offense played add-on, Jason Castro flipped a pitch into the Crawford Boxes with one one. L.J. Hoes replaced Marc Krauss, Hoes singled. Jon Singleton hit a laser to the bullpen fence in right, Anthony Gose misplayed the ball as it bounced of the base of the wall. The ball flew across the outfield to the visiting bullpen side. Singleton raced home and was called out on the home. Replay overturned the call and Singleton had his first career in-the-park home run. The team joyfully mobbed Singleton in the dugout when the replay review was over.
Hoes also did his best impression of Derek Jeter, he went head over heals into the stands to secured the catch of the foul ball. Paul Clemens shut the door on the Jays for the win, striking out the final batter looking with his slow curve. A perfect end to a perfect day at the ballpark for the Astros.