Brown pitches 6 innings, Peña and Alvarez homer as Astros beat Blue Jays 3-1 for 10th win in 11

Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña (3) is congratulated by manager Joe Espada, left, after hitting a solo home run against the Toronto Blue Jays in fifth-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, July 1, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

TORONTO (AP) — Hunter Brown pitched six shutout innings, Jeremy Peña and Yordan Álvarez hit home runs and the Houston Astros beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-1 on Monday afternoon for their 10th win in 11 games.

Houston Astros' Jeremy Peña hits a solo home run against the Toronto Blue Jays in fifth-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, July 1, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

After going 4-0 with a 1.16 ERA in five June starts, Brown (6-5) opened July with another solid outing. The right-hander allowed two hits, both singles. He walked three and struck out five.

“It couldn’t happen to a better guy,” Peña said of Brown. “He prepares really well and he goes out there and competes.”

Decked out in special red jerseys and caps, the Blue Jays lost on the Canada Day holiday for a second year in a row.

Houston Astros pitcher Hunter Brown throws against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Monday, July 1, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

After Rafael Montero worked a 1-2-3 seventh inning, the Blue Jays loaded the bases against Bryan Abreu in the eighth. Abreu escaped by getting Daulton Varsho to ground out.

“You can have him against the ropes but he’s going to figure out a way to get people out,” Astros manager Joe Espada said of Abreu. “That’s just Bryan. He’s so good, his stuff is so explosive.”

Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez celebrates with teammates after hitting a two-run home run against the Toronto Blue Jays in ninth-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, July 1, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Josh Hader allowed a solo home run to Ernie Clement in the ninth but finished for his 13th save in 14 chances.

Fans look on as a huge Canadian flag is unfurled before the start of a baseball game between the Houston Astros and Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto, Monday, July 1, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Clement’s homer off Hader was his fourth of the season.

Toronto left eight runners on base, twice leaving the bases loaded. They finished 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position.

“We just needed a hit in certain spots,” manager John Schneider said.

The Blue Jays used a single and two walks to load the bases with one out in the second but Brown got Clement to pop up before striking out Kevin Kiermaier.

“The first two innings I wasn’t executing at the clip I wanted to,” Brown said. “I was able to bear down and make some pitches early in an at-bat that kind of forced them to swing at some stuff.”

The Blue Jays have played 36 innings against the Astros this season and scored in just two of them. Toronto won 2-1 on April 2 when Davis Schneider hit a two-run home run off Hader in the ninth inning.

Houston’s Ronel Blanco threw a no-hitter against Toronto on April 1, and five Astros pitchers combined on a one-hit win over the Blue Jays on April 3.

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Yariel Rodriguez fields a ground ball before throwing out Houston Astros outfielder Yordan Alvarez, right, during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Monday, July 1, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was scratched from the lineup Monday because of pain in his right hand. Guerrero was hit on the fingers by a 96 mph fastball from Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole in the third inning of Sunday’s loss to New York.

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Yariel Rodriguez throw against the Houston Astros during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Monday, July 1, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto right-hander Yariel Rodríguez retired the first 14 batters before Peña hit a first-pitch homer in the fifth inning for his sixth of the season.

“I was just looking for a good pitch to hit and put a barrel on it,” Peña said.

Toronto Blue Jays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier jumps to catch a pop fly by Houston Astros' Jeremy Pena during second-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, July 1, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Rodríguez (0-3) allowed one run and two hits in a career-high 6 2/3 innings. He walked two and struck out six.

Álvarez gave the Astros some insurance with a two-run shot off Zach Pop in the ninth. The homer was his 17th.

ROSTER MOVES

Blue Jays: Toronto put catcher Danny Jansen on the paternity list and recalled catcher Brian Serven from Triple-A Buffalo.

Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez, right, is congratulated by teammate Alex Bregman, left, after they scored on his two-run home run against the Toronto Blue Jaysi n ninth-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, July 1, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

TRAINER’S ROOM

Astros: 2B Jose Altuve got the day off. … Right-hander Justin Verlander (neck) resumed throwing over the weekend but there is no timetable for his return, Espada said.

Blue Jays: INF Spencer Horwitz moved from second base to replace Guerrero, and Clement came in to play third. … INF Isiah Kiner-Falefa was scratched from the lineup after his left knee felt sore during pregame warmups. Kiermaier came in to play center, Varsho moved from center to left, and Davis Schneider went from left field to second.

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Yariel Rodriguez, left, and third baseman Ernie Clement (28) watch as Houston Astros' Jeremy Peña, rright, rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in fifth-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, July 1, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

UP NEXT

Blue Jays RHP José Berríos (7-6, 3.38 ERA) is scheduled to start Tuesday night against Astros RHP Spencer Arrighetti (4-6, 5.68).

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Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez, right, celebrates in front of Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk, left, as he crosses the plate after hitting a two-run home run in ninth-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, July 1, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Houston Astros' Jeremy Peña (3) is congratulated by teammate Mauricio Dubón after hitting a solo home run against the Toronto Blue Jays in fifth-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, July 1, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)