Springer’s 2 solo home runs power Blue Jays over Astros | CBC Sports

Adam Cimber, Tim Mayza and Jordan Romano threw 3 1/3 innings of scoreless ball for Toronto (14-8).

Yordan Alvarez’s home run kept the Astros (11-10) in the game.

Luis Garcia (1-1) allowed two runs on five hits and a walk, striking out five. Seth Martinez and Ryne Stanek came out of the bullpen for Houston.

Springer hit his fifth homer of the season in the Blue Jays’ first at bat of the game. The Toronto DH battled through the lengthy at bat, eventually sending Garcia’s seventh pitch just over the left-field wall.

It was the 46th leadoff homer of Springer’s nine-year career, tied with Jimmy Rollins for sixth in Major League Baseball history. Former Blue Jays outfielder Rickey Henderson is the all-time leadoff home run leader with 81.

Alvarez cut into that lead in the fourth. Hitting leadoff in the inning, he put a 2-1 pitch from Berrios to dead centre for his sixth of the season.

Home plate empire Nic Lentz called Vladimir Guerrero Jr. out on a close strike call for the final out of the fifth inning, with the big Toronto first baseman tossing his bat in anger. Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo immediately stormed out of the dugout to argue the call and was tossed from the game for his efforts. He stayed out on the field for a few more minutes to give Lentz a full lecture before returning to Toronto’s clubhouse.

Romano got leadoff hitter Chas McCormick to ground out to shortstop Bo Bichette to start the ninth inning. The Toronto closer then struck out Niko Goodrum and, with the Rogers Centre crowd of 40,732 on its feet, induced an Alex Bregman flyout.