HEARTBREAKING LOSS

Hader blows first save opportunity with Astros in 2-1 loss to Blue Jays

Astros Josh Hader
Another tough night for Houston. Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images.

Josh Hader faltered in his first opportunity with his new team, dropping to 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA.

Davis Schneider’s two-run homer off the All-Star closer with two outs in the ninth inning lifted the Toronto Blue Jays over the Houston Astros 2-1 on Tuesday night.

Not what Houston was hoping for after agreeing to a $95 million, five-year contract.

"That’s not what I want to do is go out there and make mistakes and the one mistake I made (I) paid. So, it sucks,” Hader said.

A night after Ronel Blanco threw the first no-hitter of the season in Houston’s 10-0 win, Toronto saw its scoreless streak stretch to 19 innings. The Blue Jays trailed 1-0 entering the ninth.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singled starting the inning, but Bo Bichette grounded into a double play. Hader walked Justin Turner, bringing up Schneider.

Schneider’s soaring shot sailed to center field to put the Blue Jays on top 2-1 and set off a celebration in the Toronto dugout.

“He made that one mistake there,” manager Joe Espada said. “I think he hung that slider but everything else looked pretty good.”

Hader crouched and remained there as Schneider rounded the bases.

“Trying to get it below,” Hader said. “Hung it middle, middle.”

A five-time All-Star, Hader joined the Astros after spending the last two seasons in San Diego. Two days earlier, Hader had given up a tiebreaking single to Juan Soto in the ninth inning of a 4-3 loss to the New York Yankees.

Framber Valdez had pitched 7 2/3 innings of shutout ball before turning the game over to the bullpen.

“No one wants to give up two runs, especially when you got Framber doing what he’s done, going as long as he did,” Hader said. “Unbelievable start and just not being able to give him that win, it’s unfortunate."

Hader felt good he executed his other 20 pitches pretty well.

“It comes down to that one pitch,” he said.

Jose Altuve had two hits, and his solo homer in the fourth was all the offense the Astros could muster.

Houston starter Framber Valdez allowed six hits and struck out five without a walk. He bounced back after allowing three runs and tying a career high with six walks on opening day but not factoring in the decision in a loss to the Yankees.

There was a runner on first with two outs in the eighth when Ryan Pressly replaced Valdez. He retired George Springer on a groundout to end the inning before Hader’s blown save.

Houston had a shot to add to its lead when Altuve was on third base with two outs in the eighth. But he took too big of a lead and was picked off trying to get back to third to end the inning.

Turner had three hits, with two doubles for the Blue Jays, and his walk in the ninth proved to be the difference .

The Astros took the lead with Altuve’s homer with no outs in the fourth inning. Yordan Alvarez followed with a broken-bat single, but Kyle Tucker grounded into a double play before Alex Bregman grounded out to end the inning.

Bichette, who missed the previous two games with neck spasms, got Toronto’s first hit since Sunday on a single with two outs in the first. Turner followed with a double to left field. But Alvarez threw to Bregman at third and his throw home was just in time for Victor Caratini to tag a sliding Bichette before he tagged home.

CELEBRATING SPRINGER

Springer celebrated reaching 10 years of MLB service time Tuesday. The team had a small ceremony to honor him before the game and the Astros played a video montage recognizing the milestone just before first pitch. Springer was drafted by the Astros in the first round in 2011 and spent his first seven seasons with the Astros.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Astros: RHP Justin Verlander (right shoulder inflammation) will throw a bullpen Thursday before making his first minor league rehabilitation start for either Double-A Corpus Christi or Triple-A Sugar Land.

UP NEXT

Houston RHP Cristian Javier (0-0, 0.00 ERA) opposes Chris Bassitt (0-1, 7.20) when the series wraps up Wednesday night.

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A healthy Garcia could make a big difference.Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images.

Right-hander Luis Garcia and the Houston Astros avoided arbitration when they agreed to a one-year contract for $1,875,000, matching the salary he earned last year when he didn't pitch in the major leagues as he recovered from Tommy John surgery.

The 28-year-old Garcia had surgery on May 19, 2023, and made a pair of minor league appearances last year, on June 28 and July 4, but was slow to bounce back.

Garcia is 28-19 with a 3.61 ERA in 63 starts and six relief appearances from 2020-23. He pitched for Venezuela in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

Seven Astros remained set to exchange proposed arbitration salaries with the team Thursday: right-hander Bryan Abreu, left-hander Framber Valdez, shortstop Jeremy Peña, third baseman Isaac Paredes and outfielders Mauricio Dubón, Chas McCormick and Jake Meyers.

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