Jays waste a great outing from J.A. Happ

Blue Jays 1 Astros 3

Unfortunately the win streak is over. The game itself was a bit of a snoozer. If you missed it, perhaps due to a need to snooze, then you didn't miss all that much.

Ultimately, the Blue Jays couldn't muster much offense and that's what cost them this game. Six hits and one run isn't going to cut it most days. After scoring their first and only run in the opening inning, their best opportunity to add to the lead in the second.

Colby Rasmus singled and Danny Valencia doubled, giving the Jays a man on second and third with no outs. Unfortunately, that brought Kawasaki and Goins to the plate, who, despite recent evidence to the contrary, can't really hit. Kawasaki popped it up and Goins struck out. Jose Reyes then failed to deliver the two-out hit the Jays desperately needed.

From that point on, the Blue Jays never really threatened, something that is probably going to happen from time to time with the somewhat suspect lineup the team is running out there right now. Nolan Reimold got on board with an infield single in the ninth to give Toronto some hope, but a comeback was not in the cards. Danny Valencia struck out looking to end the game on what seemed like the only pitch he took all night.

Of course, some credit should be given to Collin McHugh who has come out of nowhere this season to become a mighty fine pitcher and an impressive strikeout artist.

The Astros tied the game in the fourth, and surged ahead in the eighth. Aaron Loup relieved J.A. Happ and promptly gave up Gregorio Petit's first career home run on his first pitch. Loup proceeded to give up a double to Jose Altuve on a strange play where the ball got wedged under the wall. Following a steal by Altuve, he came home on a sac fly, giving Houston an insurance run.

On a positive note, Happ was fantastic. The southpaw went seven innings giving up only one run on three hits (all singles, none of them hit hard) and struck out six while walking only two. Happ retired the first 11 batters he saw, the only trouble he faced came in the forth when he allowed a two-out rally that started with a Chris Carter infield single and ended with a bloop hit off the bat of Jesus Guzman. He really did deserve the win today, and it is frustrating to waste such a nice start.

Jay of the Day: J.A. Happ (.324)

Suckage Jay of the Day: Jose Reyes (-.169) and really anyone else in the lineup.

Source: FanGraphs