Yordan Alvarez homered twice and matched his career high with four hits, Cristian Javier and four relievers combined on a one-hitter and the Houston Astros beat the Toronto Blue Jays 8-0 on Wednesday night.
Javier (1-0) allowed the only hit and pitched five innings. Seth Martinez, Rafael Montero, Tayler Scott and Dylan Coleman worked an inning each.
It’s the second game in the series where the Blue Jays were shut out after Ronel Blanco threw the 17th no-hitter in franchise history in a 10-0 victory Monday night.
It was a breakout night for Alvarez, who entered Wednesday having hit just three singles in the first six games. It was the 16th career multi-homer game for the Cuban and the fifth time he’s had four hits.
Alvarez, who added an RBI double in the fourth, homered off Chris Bassitt (0-2) in the third and connected off Tim Mayza in the sixth.
The Astros tagged Bassitt (0-2) for nine hits and four runs in 4 1/3 innings in his second tough start to open the season after he allowed 10 hits and a career-high nine runs in his season debut.
Daulton Varsho doubled with one out in the second for Toronto’s only hit. The Blue Jays walked seven times but couldn’t get anything going at the plate.
Jeremy Peña hit a two-run homer and Jose Altuve added a solo shot in the seventh to make it 8-0. Peña had two hits and drove in three runs in his fourth multi-hit game this season. It was the second straight game with a homer for Altuve and his third this season.
There was one out in the third when Alvarez, who hit 31 homers last season, knocked one to the bullpen in right-center to put Houston on top 1-0.
Altuve walked with two outs in the fourth before scoring on a double by Alvarez to extend the lead to 2-0.
Chas McCormick and Peña hit consecutive RBI singles with one out in the fifth to make it 4-0.
The second homer by Alvarez came to start the sixth and extended the lead to 5-0. The shot landed in the seats behind the bullpen in right-centre.
Banner image: Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Tim Mayza, right, looks away as Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez, back left, rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, April 3, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
