The Toronto Blue Jays just cannot figure things out at Daikin Park.
After being limited to just one run over the past two games, in large part due to a Nathan Lukes home run yesterday, the club was stymied again in Houston. The Astros’ pitching staff limited the Jays’ bats to just five hits and one run on the day, and that simply wasn’t enough to get the job done.
Bo Bichette, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., George Springer, and Andres Gimenez provided the offense for the club heading into the ninth, while the Jays struck out seven times on the day, while Anthony Santander and Springer got on base via a walk. Astros starter Ryan Gusto struck out six through 5 2/3 innings while allowing just the one run and one walk before giving way to the bullpen. Gimenez also contributed on the base paths, securing his eighth stolen base of the season.
The Blue Jays threatened in the ninth against closer Josh Hader, with runners on second and third with one out thanks to an Ernie Clement double but Hader escaped the inning by striking out Alejandro Kirk and getting Myles Straw to pop out to center field. This was the second time this season the Jays have been swept.
1️⃣1️⃣ + 2️⃣7️⃣
📲 #WallpaperWednesday pic.twitter.com/i67dAyqiPd
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) April 23, 2025
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The Blue Jays got 4 2/3 innings from Bowden Francis, who allowed three earned runs off of eight hits while striking out six batters, and the relief staff followed suit with a tight performance. Chad Green and Yimi Garcia did not allow a run the rest of the way, striking out one batter each. Jeff Hoffman saw some action in the eighth inning after the lack of save opportunities as of late, and he produced a clean inning.
Toronto will have an off-day tomorrow before a three-game series in New York, where the Bronx Bombers will welcome them after besting the Cleveland Guardians by a score of 5-1 today. The Blue Jays bats will hopefully be picked up somewhere along the way, as the club will be facing a Yankees squad that ranks at the top of the league in home runs, while bringing in a pitching staff that has given up their fair share of the long balls this season.