Astros Take Second Straight Game and Series, Winning 5-1 Over Blue Jays

Ronel Blanco sparkles behind good run support

After posting a 9+ ERA in Spring Training, and after his second regular season start in which he allowed four runs in less than two innings, I figured Ronel Blanco was just another one-season wonder after his surprising debut in 2024.

After tonight’s 6.2 innings pitched allowing only one run, two hits with three Ks, I think the Astros’ rotation might be five deep with quality starters after the return of Spencer Arrighetti and Lance McCullers Jr.

Besides the reappearance of 2024 Ronel, the Astros are encouraged to see their first three-hit game out of heretofore disappointing Christian Walker. The Astros have now won four of their last five games over two good teams, are over .500 for the first time since the first series in the year, and got 10 hits in two straight games. They tagged the formerly league leading ERA guy, Chris Bassitt, with four runs in 5.1 innings, more than doubling his ERA to 1.88 and handing him his first season loss. That after handing the Blue Jays’ other ace, Kevin Gausman a loss yesterday.

But not without some luck. They scored three runs in the first inning but needed two infield hits, a bloop single, and a ground single by Christian Walker that fortuitously hit second base to help him avoid a groundout.

A Yainer Diaz double in the sixth inning added another run, although in that inning Jose Altuve and Yordan Alvarez later stranded the bases full.

The fifth Astros run scored on an Isaac Paredes home run, his team-leading fourth.

The Blue Jays scored their only run on a home run in the third inning by Nathan Lukes. Bryan King got the last out for Blanco in the seventh inning on one pitch, and Manager Joe Espada sent in the big guns, Bryan Abreu and Josh Hader, to finish off the Jays. They each threw a perfect inning, striking out two apiece.

Box Score HERE.