Blue Jays surprise Astros 4-3 after knocking in winning run in the 10th off old pal Francisco Liriano,
Goins knocks in winner night after blowout defeat, Estrada back in groove
HOUSTON— Ryan Goins slashed a 10th-inning, two-out single to left field to drive in Rob Refsnyder and propel the Blue Jays to a 4-3 win over the league-leading Houston Astros on Saturday night.
Goins’ big hit came off former Jay Francisco Liriano, who was sent to Houston just before last Monday’s trade deadline.
The win evens the season series between the clubs at 3-3, with the deciding game Sunday afternoon at Minute Maid Park.
It also marked a rebound for Jays starter Marco Estrada, who gave up two homers but held the league’s best offence to three runs and five hits.
Joining the Jays in 2015 rejuvenated Estrada’s career.
Before arriving in Toronto, Estrada had never won more than seven games in a season, and never posted an ERA below 3.64. In 2014, Estrada pitched 1502⁄ innings and surren
3 dered a league-high 29 home runs.
Then in 2015 he recorded a careerhigh 13 wins, pitching 181 innings but trimming his home-run total to 24. That season he gave up an average of 6.7 hits per nine innings, leading the league and setting a new career best. The following year he again led the majors, allowing 6.8 hits per nine innings. In 2010 he finished 10th in Cy Young Award voting, and last year he made his first all-star team.
But Estrada entered Saturday having given up an average of 9.2 hits per nine innings, the highest rate of his career as a full-time starting pitcher, while his ERA has risen from 3.13 two years ago to 5.19.
Most of the damage to Estrada’s stat line happened since May.
He opened that month at Yankee Stadium, giving up one run over seven innings in a 7-1 win, and lowering his ERA to 2.43.
But from there, that figure has risen steadily, peaking at 5.52 after 13-3 loss to Cleveland on July 21.
For most of July, Estrada’s name surfaced in trade rumours, and though manager John Gibbons doesn’t blame speculation for the pitcher’s recent struggles, he says it didn’t help.
“Since the day he got here we had never seen that,” Gibbons said of Estrada’s rough summer. “From day one since he got here he was as good as anybody. But the big leagues is so tough. You’re not going to do that forever. He proved he’s human.”
After Josh Donaldson doubled to score Jose Bautista in the first inning, Astros centre-fielder Josh Reddick responded with a two-run homer in the bottom of the first. Half an inning later, Steve Pearce scored on a Bautista ground out to tie the game 2-2 and record his 46th RBI of the season.
Houston first baseman Tyler White led off the third by battling Estrada to a full count. When Estrada looked to close the at-bat with his best pitch — a changeup — White was ready. The 26-year-old launched it high and deep to left field, where Pearce didn’t even chase it.
He just turned and watched it sail over the fence for White’s third homer in two days.
Before Saturday’s game, the Jays designated relief pitcher Mike Bols- inger for assignment to Triple-A Buffalo. Bolsinger retired just one Astros batter in Friday night’s loss while giving up three walks, four hits and four earned runs.
To replace him the club promoted reliever Taylor Cole from Buffalo. After receiving the call at midnight Friday, Cole spent the next few hours packing, then boarded a 6 a.m. flight to Detroit to catch a connecting flight to Houston. Cole has compiled a 33-40 record in seven minor-league seasons, with 117 starts among his 128 appearances. His four appearances with the Bisons totalled 52⁄ score
3 less innings.