Astros win tight finale as Hader slams the door in ninth
SWEEP!
24 April
The Astros beat the Blue Jays, 3-1. Photo by Jack Gorman/Getty Images.
Christian Walker homered in a three-run second, Ryan Gusto pitched well into the sixth and the Houston Astros beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-1 on Wednesday night to sweep the three-game series.
CHRISTIAN SKYWALKER. #BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/EZxbda3HT3
— Houston Astros (@astros) April 24, 2025
Walker led off the second with a home run to left off Bowden Francis (2-3), Yainer Diaz tripled and scored on Zach Dezenzo's RBI single and Yordan Alvarez capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly.
Gusto (3-1) allowed one run on three hits with six strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. Gusto has allowed three runs or fewer in each of his three starts this season.
Bryan King pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings, and Bryan Abreu threw a scoreless eighth.
George Springer walked, and Ernie Clement doubled with one out in the ninth, but Josh Hader struck out Alejandro Kirk and induced a flyout by Myles Straw for his seventh save.
Houston has won five of its last six.
Springer hit an RBI double in the fourth for the Blue Jays. They have lost five straight games.
Francis surrendered three runs on eight hits in 4 2/3 innings. He has allowed three runs or fewer in four of his five starts.
Key moment
Hader striking out Kirk and getting Straw to flyout to center to end it.
Key stat
The Astros swept the Blue Jays for the first time since they swept a four-game series in Houston on May 14-17, 2015.
Final Thoughts
Julia Morales caught up with Walker after the game.
#Astros beat the Blue Jays 3-1
Christian Walker 2-4, HR & spoke with @JuliaMorales after the @astros WIN#BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/MyRYdVwidH
— Space City Home Network (@SpaceCityHN) April 24, 2025
Up next
Houston starts a three-game series Friday at Kansas City, with RHP Hayden Wesneski (1-1, 3.91 ERA) starting the opener. Toronto RHP José Berríos (1-1, 5.02) starts Friday night in the opener of a three-game series at the Yankees.
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The Houston Astros have long prided themselves on being a model organization — sharp, calculated, and ahead of the curve. But in this episode, we take a closer look at a story that’s raised eyebrows across the fanbase and inside the clubhouse: a troubling pattern of questionable decisions from the team’s medical staff.
It starts with a surprising face — the Astros’ own hand specialist, recently honored with the ceremonial first pitch. Behind the scenes, however, a different narrative is unfolding. Kyle Tucker was initially diagnosed with a “bone bruise,” only for it to later be revealed as a fracture. Yordan Alvarez played through three weeks of inflammation without undergoing proper imaging — a decision that’s baffling.
This isn’t just a string of bad breaks. It’s a series of red flags that call into question the protocols — or lack thereof — behind Houston’s return-to-play decisions. We examine whether these are isolated mistakes or signs of something more systemic. What does “60% healed” or “70% ready” actually mean when you’re managing the health of elite athletes?
In a season where every game counts, misdiagnosing key players isn’t just risky — it could be catastrophic.
Be sure to watch the video below as ESPN Houston John Granato and Lance Zierlien break it all down!
*ChatGPT assisted.
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Looking to get the word out about your business, products, or services? Consider advertising on SportsMap! It's a great way to get in front of Houston sports fans. Click the link below for more information!
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