The Sports Xchange
Aug 5, 2017
HOUSTON -- Ryan Goins slapped a two-out, two-strike RBI single to left field, scoring Rob Refsnyder with the go-ahead run in the 10th inning in the Toronto Blue Jays' 4-3 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night at Minute Maid Park.
Goins delivered his game-winning hit off Astros left-hander Francisco Liriano (6-7), who lost for the second time in as many appearances since joining Houston at the non-waiver trade deadline.
Refsnyder reached base as a pinch-hitter on a four-pitch walk with one out and stole second. He scored on Goins' single when Astros left fielder Derek Fisher made an inaccurate throw to home.
Right-hander Ryan Tepera (6-1) earned the win with two scoreless innings of relief for the Blue Jays (52-58), who received seven strong innings from starter Marco Estrada.
The Blue Jays scratched across the tying run off Astros starter Charlie Morton in the seventh after Morton worked four consecutive scoreless innings prior to that frame. Kevin Pillar and Darwin Barney reached on singles to open the seventh and Jose Bautista plated the tying run on a fielder's choice grounder. First baseman Tyler White fielded the ball cleanly and threw home in an attempt to cut down Pillar, but Astros catcher Brian McCann did not attempt a tag.
Josh Reddick and Tyler White homered for the Astros (70-40), with Reddick belting his 11th homer in the first inning. White led off the third inning with his third homer this season.
The Blue Jays had the leadoff batter reach base in the first and second innings and cashed in both times.
Josh Donaldson drilled a one-out double off the wall in straightaway center field to score Bautista, whose infield single led off the game.
In the second, Steve Pearce worked a leadoff walk and scored when Bautista forced him home with a run-scoring groundout to third.
Morton settled down soon thereafter, retiring the Blue Jays in order in the third, fourth and sixth innings. When he ran into some two-out danger in the fifth, Morton fanned Justin Smoak on three pitches with a pair of baserunners in scoring position.
NOTES: The Blue Jays designated RHP Mike Bolsinger for assignment and selected the contract of RHP Taylor Cole from Triple-A Buffalo. Bolsinger, acquired via trade from the Los Angeles Dodgers last August, was 0-3 with a 6.31 ERA over 11 games, including five starts. Cole pitched across three levels in the minors for the Blue Jays, posting a 0.00 ERA in 12 2/3 innings. ... The Astros placed C Evan Gattis on the seven-day concussion disabled list and recalled C Juan Centeno from Triple-A Fresno. Gattis was concussed on Thursday night when he was hit in the helmet by a backswing from Rays LF Corey Dickerson. ... Astros 3B J.D. Davis was selected from Triple-A Fresno. Davis hit .282 with 26 home runs and 78 RBIs across two levels in the minors. The Astros optioned 1B A.J. Reed to Fresno.