Houston loses the middle game

Blue Jays ding Urquidy to even series with Astros

Astros' Jose Urquidy
Jose Urquidy didn't fare well on Saturday. Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images.

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)

Toronto gets to Urquidy

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.

A crash landing for Houston's bats as Toronto evens the series

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.

astrosastros recapastros scoreblue jaysblue jays scoreblue jays recapastros vs blue jaysjose urquidymlbmlb scoremlb recap

Most Popular

SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome

Listen Live

ESPN Houston 97.5 FM
Kyle Tucker returns to Houston this weekend. Composite Getty Image.

Two first-place teams, identical records, and a weekend set with serious measuring-stick energy.

The Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs open a three-game series Friday night at Daikin Park, in what could quietly be one of the more telling matchups of the summer. Both teams enter at 48-33, each atop their respective divisions — but trending in slightly different directions.

The Astros have been red-hot, going 7-3 over their last 10 while outscoring opponents by 11 runs. They've done it behind one of the best pitching staffs in baseball, with a collective 3.41 ERA that ranks second in the American League. Houston has also been dominant at home, where they’ve compiled a 30-13 record — a stat that looms large heading into this weekend.

On the other side, the Cubs have held their ground in the NL Central but have shown some recent shakiness. They're 5-5 over their last 10 games and have given up 5.66 runs per game over that stretch. Still, the offense remains dangerous, ranking fifth in on-base percentage across the majors. Kyle Tucker leads the way with a .287 average, 16 homers, and 49 RBIs, while Michael Busch has been hot of late, collecting 12 hits in his last 37 at-bats.

Friday’s pitching matchup features Houston’s Brandon Walter (0-1, 3.80 ERA, 1.10 WHIP) and Chicago’s Cade Horton (3-1, 3.73 ERA, 1.29 WHIP), a promising young arm making one of his biggest starts of the season on the road. Horton will have his hands full with Isaac Paredes, who’s slugged 16 homers on the year, and Mauricio Dubón, who’s found a groove with four home runs over his last 10 games.

It’s the first meeting of the season between these two clubs — and if the trends continue, it may not be the last time they cross paths when it really counts.

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Astros -112, Cubs -107; over/under is 8 1/2 runs

Here's a preview of Joe Espada's Game 1 lineup.

The first thing that stands out is rookie Cam Smith is hitting cleanup, followed by Jake Meyers. Victor Caratini is the DH and is hitting sixth. Christian Walker is all the way down at seventh, followed by Yainer Diaz, and Taylor Trammell who is playing left field.

How the mighty have fallen.

Pretty wild to see Walker and Diaz hitting this low in the lineup. However, it's justified, based on performance. Walker is hitting a pathetic .214 and Diaz is slightly better sporting a .238 batting average.

Screenshot via: MLB.com



___________________________

*ChatGPT assisted.

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!

https://houston.sportsmap.com/advertise

astroshouston astros

SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome