Houston loses the middle game
Blue Jays ding Urquidy to even series with Astros
Jun 5, 2021, 5:04 pm
Houston loses the middle game
Jose Urquidy didn't fare well on Saturday.
With a hit parade in Friday's opener to start this three-game set on the right foot, the Astros looked to lock up the series victory in a similar fashion on Saturday afternoon. Instead, the Blue Jays reversed the roles and got after Jose Urquidy, while Houston's bats made little noise, resulting in an Astros loss to even the series.
Final Score: Blue Jays 6, Astros 2
Astros' Record: 32-26, second in the AL West
Winning Pitcher: Ross Stripling (2-3)
Losing Pitcher: Jose Urquidy (4-3)
🚨 VLADDY JR HAS TAKEN BACK THE LEAGUE LEAD IN HOMERS 🚨 pic.twitter.com/I8F7hLouKs
— MLB (@MLB) June 5, 2021
After returning from the IL with a quality start in his last outing, giving him four in his previous five starts, Jose Urquidy did not get one on Saturday. He started with three scoreless innings, but things unraveled for him in the bottom of the fourth as back-to-back singles to start the frame turned into a one-out RBI single and then a three-run home run, giving Toronto a 4-1 lead at the time. Urquidy tried to rebound in the bottom of the fifth, but again, it would get tagged as a one-out single turned into a two-run homer by Vladmir Guerrero Jr., making it a 6-1 game. That would be the end of his afternoon, making his final line 4.1 IP, 9 H, 6 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 2 HR, 74 P.
After putting up thirteen runs the night prior, things were not clicking as well for Houston. They had a chance to get on the board in the top of the third, with Myles Straw coming around from second on a hit by Jose Altuve, but would miss the call to slide, getting tagged out by a great throw to prevent the run. They threatened in the top of the fourth, loading the bases with two outs, but would get just one run out of it on an RBI walk by Straw.
They made little noise after that, until the top of the ninth when they would get runners on second and third with no outs. Straw would get a groundout to bring a run in, making it 6-2, but that's as close as they would come in the loss, setting up a rubber game in the finale to decide the series.
Up Next: The finale of this three-game set and the six-game season series between the Astros and Blue Jays will start at 12:07 PM Central on Sunday. Luis Garcia (4-3, 2.89 ERA) will try to replicate the success of his recent seven-inning start for Houston, while Steven Matz (6-2, 4.22 ERA) will be on the mound for Toronto.
The Houston Rockets pulled the trigger on a trade with Atlanta before the trade deadline on Thursday.
According to reports, the Rockets are acquiring center Cody Zeller and a second round pick in exchange for the NBA rights to international player Alpha Kaba.
Can confirm the Rockets acquiring Cody Zeller and their 2028 2nd-round pick from Atlanta. In exchange, Atlanta is acquiring the rights to Alpha Kaba, sources tell @TheAthletic.
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) February 6, 2025
Reports from Yahoo Sports indicate this is basically a salary dump for the Hawks, and Houston is buying back their draft pick.
Hoopshype is reporting that the Rockets will release recently acquired Jaden Springer to make room for Zeller.
Via YardBarker:
The Pelicans re-signed Zeller last summer to use his contract for salary-matching purposes in the Dejounte Murray trade. However, he has yet to play a game for the Hawks in 24-25, having been listed as away from the team for personal reasons for much of the season.
Time will tell if the Rockets decide to release Zeller in the coming days.