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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The Astros are rolling right now! Composite Getty Image.

The Houston Astros are in the middle of a midseason surge that’s turned heads across the American League, but don’t let the win streak distract from one key truth: they’re doing this with less.

So what’s powering the Astros’ recent run? It starts with elite pitching. Despite an offense that's been merely middle-of-the-pack — 14th in OPS, 20th in runs scored, and 17th in slugging — Houston ranks fifth in team ERA and leads the majors in batting average against (.218). That’s how they’re winning series while missing key pieces of their core.

Still, there’s more to this run than numbers. Is the resilience we’re seeing tangible evidence of the Astros’ winning culture? Absolutely — especially lately. Rookie Cam Smith is the latest example. He delivered the first walk-off hit of his career over the weekend and looks like he belongs in the big leagues. Meanwhile, the lineup has caught fire over the last week hitting:

  • Jose Altuve: .429
  • Jeremy Peña: .417
  • Cam Smith: .304
  • Yainer Diaz: .292
  • Christian Walker: .278

And all of this has come without one of Houston’s top two hitters being unavailable for the Twins series, Isaac Paredes, who remains sidelined with a sore hamstring.

With 71 games in the books, the conversation around second-year manager Joe Espada is beginning to shift — from quiet confidence to serious consideration for AL Manager of the Year. The case is strong. Espada has navigated a bruised and bruising season that’s seen Yordan Alvarez miss extended time with a fractured bone in his hand and three key starting pitchers (Spencer Arrighetti, Hayden Wesneski, Ronel Blanco) land on the shelf — two of them for the year.

So, what would it take for Astros owner Jim Crane to give GM Dana Brown the green light to aggressively pursue help at the deadline? History suggests pitching would be the priority. But with young arms like Colton Gordon, Ryan Gusto, and Brandon Walter stepping up, a move may not feel necessary, especially if it means exceeding the luxury tax threshold.

The Astros might be banged up, but they’re thriving and proving they don’t need to be at full strength to play like contenders.

There's so much more to cover! Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!

The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday.

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