Houston rallies with four in 9th
Back from Triple-A, Centeno wins Sunday’s game with RBI single.
The Houston Astros continue to find ways to win, with their latest victory coming thanks to a player who was called up from the minors just a day earlier.
Juan Centeno hit an RBI single with two outs to cap a four-run rally in the ninth inning Sunday, lifting the Astros over the Toronto Blue Jays 7-6 for their 71st victory.
Centeno was recalled from Triple-A Fresno on Saturday when catcher Evan Gattis landed on the disabled list with a concussion.
“He’s taken advantage of any small opportunity that’s been given,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “It’s hard to impact games the way he is. You get noticed and you get more opportunities.”
Jose Altuve singled off All-Star closer Roberto Osuna (3-3) to begin the Houston ninth and one-
out singles by Yuli Gurriel and Marwin Gonzalez loaded the bases. Carlos Beltran grounded into a forceout that scored a run, and Alex Bregman hit a tying, tworun triple.
“I never get in that situation without my teammates,” Bregman said. “Great, great at-bat after at-bat, just something that our team’s done all year.”
Centeno followed with a liner over the head of leaping first baseman Justin Smoak and into shallow right field to win it for the AL West leaders.
“When things get rolling, they don’t let you up,” Toronto manager John Gibbons said. “It’s a deep lineup, they got caught up in it and they got some big hits.”
Nori Aoki had a two-run homer, his first hit since being traded from Houston to Toronto last Monday, during a four-run seventh that gave the Blue Jays a 6-3 lead.
Francis Martes (4-1) pitched 1⅔ scoreless innings for the win. Osuna allowed five hits and four runs while getting just two outs for his seventh blown save this season.
Toronto starter Marcus Stroman tied a season-high with 11 hits, but allowed just three runs — two earned — in 6⅔ innings.
Jose Bautista hit a tworun homer in the third for the Blue Jays.
Trainer’s room: Outfielder George Springer, who has been out since July 25 with a strained left quadriceps, has been improving and could come off the disabled list as soon as Tuesday. Hinch said Springer worked out on Sunday and would have a day off on Monday before resuming work on Tuesday, when they could make a decision about whether to activate him.
Up next: Houston opens a series against the White Sox with Dallas Keuchel (9-1, 2.15) on the mound on Tuesday. Keuchel looks to bounce back after taking his first loss of the season in a 3-0 loss to the Rays in his last start in his second start back after spending almost two months on the disabled list with a pinched nerve in his neck.