Straw, Kirk come up clutch as Blue Jays top Astros 4-2 for fifth win in six games

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Hunter Brown pitched just three innings, giving up four hits, one run, two walks and striking out four for Houston (37-43). He stayed in the game for some time after taking a comebacker from Springer off his lower back before exiting the game.

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AJ Blubaugh, Enyel De Los Santos (0-2), Bryan King and Logan VanWey pitched in relief of Brown.

TAKEAWAYS

Blue Jays: Cease had a first inning to forget, getting out of a bases-loaded jam thanks to a double play to close the frame. He gave up two walks and two singles through four of the first five batters he faced. Yanier Diaz grounding out into a double with runners on every base allowed Cease and the Blue Jays to settle down and not sink into a troubling early deficit.

Astros: Houston struggled to gain any momentum with a 1-0 lead after Diaz’s groundout in the opening inning. The Astros saw seven of the Blue Jays’ nine hitters earn a hit on the night with Springer, Guerrero and Okamoto each having two.

KEY MOMENT

With the game tied 2-2 in the seventh inning, Straw’s sac fly to left field brought home Varsho for the go-ahead run.

KEY STAT

Entering Monday’s game, Okamoto had 16 home runs and was tied with Bo Bichette for the most through a player’s first 75 MLB games in franchise history.

UP NEXT

Right-hander Shane Bieber will make his season debut for the Blue Jays, while the Astros will send fellow righty Peter Lambert (6-4, 3.23 ERA) to the mound on Tuesday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 22, 2026.

Abdulhamid Ibrahim, The Canadian Press