(Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images)
The visiting Houston Astros will aim to maintain their success against the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday afternoon in the decisive game of a three-game series.
Yainer Diaz's ninth-inning solo homer gave the Astros a 3-2 win over the Blue Jays on Wednesday and a split of the first two games.
The Astros (79-67) have won four of five games against the Blue Jays this season and have won eight of the past 10 between the teams.
Toronto (83-62) is scheduled to start right-hander Kevin Gausman (9-10, 3.63 ERA), who has had his problems against the Astros. He is 3-5 with a 5.13 ERA in eight career starts Houston, including a loss on April 21, when he gave up four runs in six innings.
Houston's scheduled starter is right-hander Cristian Javier (1-2, 4.43), who is 2-1 with a 3.52 ERA in three career starts against Toronto.
The Astros feel they could have won the series opener, too. Bryan Abreu failed to hold a two-run lead in the ninth inning on Tuesday, and the Blue Jays won 4-3 in 10 innings.
The Wednesday game had a similar feel. Toronto scored twice in the eighth to tie the game 2-2 after Jason Alexander pitched seven scoreless innings. Diaz homered in the ninth, and Houston manager Joe Espada was rewarded for his faith in Abreu, who threw a perfect ninth for his fifth save.
Espada had talked to Abreu after his disappointing outing a day earlier.
'I told him how much I trust him,' Espada said. 'When the game is on the line, I want him on the mound.'
Diaz also had an RBI double, and Carlos Correa hit his 200th career home run to give Houston a 2-0 lead in the sixth.
Diaz has five hits in the series, helping to boost a struggling lineup.
'He's being more patient,' Espada said 'He's swinging at more strikes. When he's swinging at strikes, he is a very dangerous hitter.'
Toronto closer Jeff Hoffman, who surrendered Diaz's game-winning blast, continues to struggle. He has allowed 15 homers in 62 1/3 innings this season, tied for the most in the majors by a relief pitcher. He has served up 13 homers in the ninth inning or later, a club record.
Toronto manager John Schneider admitted that he was beginning to sound 'like a broken record' in his defense of Hoffman.
'It's just one bad pitch,' Schneider said. 'We're trying to go in on Diaz all night, and it just kind of was middle-middle. ... (Hoffman) has good stuff. I still trust him. He's been throwing the ball really well. It was one bad pitch tonight.'
Hoffman's first out of the ninth, however, was a solid line drive to center by Victor Caratini.
Astros second baseman Jose Altuve did not start on Wednesday, then struck out as a pinch hitter.
'Just a day for him to relax and reset and get back in there for tomorrow,' Espada said. 'He's been playing a lot.'
Altuve has been struggling at the plate, and he did not run hard to third base in the 10th inning on Tuesday when he was thrown out on a grounder to first.
Houston's Yordan Alvarez went 2-for-4 on Wednesday and is hitting .449/.533/.694 with three homers in 14 games since returning from the injured list.
--Field Level Media
