Martin’s 3-run homer helps Jays beat Astros

Astros 2 Blue Jays 4

Until Russell Martin hit that 3-run homer, in the 6th inning, it looked like it was going to be one of those really really sad games.

Aaron Sanchez had some troubles in the 1st inning. He gave up a 1-out single and back-to-back doubles to put us down 2 runs early.

After the first, Aaron settled in. He allowed just 2 more hits over the next 6 innings. He finished at 7 innings, 5 hits, 2 earned, 3 walks and 6 strikeouts. He did give up a couple of fly balls right to the outfield wall but both were caught.

Jason Grilli gave up a 2-out triple in the 8th. Michael Saunders dived for the sinking liner, he shouldn’t have, but Grilli struck out Carlos Correa to end to inning.

Roberto Osuna pitched the 9th for his 26th save. He did give up a 2-out double to the wall, that Ceciliani almost made an amazing catch, just missing it jumping at the wall.

Offensively, we didn’t do much until Martin’s homer. Josh Donaldson had a solo homer in the first, but we didn’t really threaten again until the 6th. The Jays set up Martin’s home run with a Edwin Encarnacion single over second and a beautiful bunt single by Saunders. After a Troy Tulowitzki ground out (after he was ripped off on a pitch that was clearly ball 4), Russell knocked a 3-2 pitch (again after ball 4 was called a strike) deep over the wall in dead center.

Jays had 7 hits in all. Edwin was the only hitter to have 2 hits, he also took a walk. Devon Travis, Tulowitzki and Darrell Ceciliani all had 0 fors.

Melvin Upton had a single but then was picked off first and throw out stealing 1-3-6

Jays of the Day: Martin (.423 WPA) and Sanchez (.168). Let’s give honorable mention to Grilli, Osuna, Encarnacion and Donaldson.

Suckage: Tulowitzki had the number (-.103) but he made some nice plays on defense, so I can’t give him one.

GO GIANTS GO. Maybe we can have a GameThread for that game late tonight.

There was a funny moment in the game. One of Toronto’s Finest put her body on the line to block A.J. Reed from making a catch on a popup:

We only had 561 comments in a fairly slow but fun GameThread. barraqudie led us to victory. Great job.