Jordan Romano gives up two-run homer as Blue Jays are walked off in Houston

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HOUSTON — The emotional attachment between Lourdes Gurriel Jr., and his older brother Yuli is a strong one and meetings on the baseball field are always a highlight for the Cuban siblings.

And the Blue Jays left fielder was that close to claiming bragging rights on Sunday afternoon at Minute Maid Park.

A home run in the fifth inning and a clutch RBI double in the top of the 10th inning appeared to give the Jays a good shot at their first series sweep of the season.

Instead, normally unflappable Jays closer Jordan Romano gave up a two-run homer to rookie Jeremy Pena in the bottom half as the Astros walked it off for an 8-7 win.

It was the first blown save for Romano, who had eight successful ones already this season and spoiled a gritty comeback from the Jays, who were uncharacteristically sloppy in the field.

The Jays still took the three-game series, 2-1, though they’ve dropped into a first-place tie in the American League East with the New York Yankees, both teams at 10-6.

The Astros also scored three unearned runs thanks to errors in the field by shortstop Bo Bichette and first baseman and hometown boy, Cavan Biggio.

But the plucky Jays kept grinding at-bats against the Astros’ dancing-man starter Luis Garcia and claimed a 6-5 lead in the seventh, only to give it back in the bottom half.

That set the stage for the Jays first extra-innings game of the season and it didn’t end well.

AROUND THE BASES

A pair singles from Vlad Guerrero Jr. gives him eight multi-hit games on the season and three in a row … Lourdes Gurriel Jr. notched his first homer of the season, a solo shot in the fifth … Jays reliever Yimi Garcia had a visitor prior to the game when Houston manager Dusty Baker dropped by to present the former Astros pitcher with his 2021 ALCS championship ring … Saturday’s dramatic win here was the 200th of manager Charlie Montoyo’s managerial career.

HOME AGAIN

The Jays were to return home following Sunday’s game where they will begin their longest home stand of the season.

The 10-game Toronto residency begins with four against the Red Sox starting on Monday followed by three more against the Astros and another three-pack against the Yankees.

The rotation will stay on course with Jose Berrios getting the ball on Monday followed by Kevin Gausman, Ross Stripling and Alek Manoah.


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