Houston Astros vs Toronto Blue Jays live streaming links match review radio commentry audio feed internet tv with 3000+ channels espn 360 gamecast May 21, 2011. A rare trip to Canada has seemed to give the Houston Astros' sagging offense a little life.
In the franchise's first trip to Toronto on Friday, Houston (16-29) appeared to be heading to another listless defeat. The Astros trailed 2-0 before Hunter Pence's two-run, two-out double in the top of the eighth. Chris Johnson then hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the ninth and Houston won 5-2, snapping a five-game skid.
Houston, which plated 10 runs while batting .200 in its previous five contests, hit the five-run mark for just the second time in 16 games. The Astros, 4-0 all-time versus Toronto, haven't won two straight since winning three in a row April 30-May 2.
While Houston got back in the win column, the Blue Jays (22-22) lost for just the second time in nine games.
It was a rare poor showing from Toronto's bullpen, as its relievers gave up all five runs after yielding two runs in 21 innings over the previous seven contests.
"We have an awesome bullpen," Friday's starter Jo-Jo Reyes said. "That's not going to happen every night."
Unproductive nights from Jose Bautista are also a rarity.
Bautista was 0 for 3 with a walk in the opener, and is hitless in seven at-bats in his last two games after batting .405 with seven homers, 11 RBIs and seven walks during a nine-game hitting streak. The slugger is batting .190 in 18 interleague games since the start of last season.
Corey Patterson is suddenly swinging a hot bat for Toronto, batting .313 during a career high-tying 11-game hitting streak. Going 12 straight with a hit could be tough, however, as he is 1 for 19 (.053) lifetime against scheduled starter Brett Myers (1-3, 4.79 ERA).
After going 0-3 with a 7.88 ERA in his previous four starts, Myers gave up two runs and eight hits in six innings against Atlanta on Monday. The Astros lost 3-2 but Myers didn't get a decision.
Myers, who hasn't won since April 12, was pulled after throwing 110 pitches, and high pitch counts have kept him from going deep into games. The right-hander has averaged 109.4 pitches in his last five starts but has only made it past the sixth inning once.
Myers went 1-2 with a 3.48 ERA in three starts against the AL last season, and this will be his first career start against the Blue Jays. He made two relief appearances against Toronto in 2007, with Philadelphia.
The Blue Jays counter with Brandon Morrow (2-2, 4.85), who allowed three runs and five hits in five innings in Sunday's 11-3 win over Minnesota. Morrow, who opened the year on disabled list with right forearm inflammation, struck out eight Twins and now has 37 strikeouts in 26 innings over five starts.
With the victory at Target Field, Morrow improved to 2-0 with a 3.12 ERA in his three road starts but has recorded an 8.31 ERA in losing his two outings at Rogers Centre.
The right-hander made his only appearance against the Astros as a rookie for Seattle on June 17, 2007, allowing three runs in one-third of an inning of relief.
1:07 PM ET, May 21, 2011The NL-worst Astros try to win back-to-back games for the first in nearly three weeks Saturday against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Rogers Centre, Toronto, Ontario
In the franchise's first trip to Toronto on Friday, Houston (16-29) appeared to be heading to another listless defeat. The Astros trailed 2-0 before Hunter Pence's two-run, two-out double in the top of the eighth. Chris Johnson then hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the ninth and Houston won 5-2, snapping a five-game skid.
Starting Pitchers"We needed to get one," said Pence, who was batting .172 with eight strikeouts and no RBIs in his previous seven games. "It's been a rough road trip so far. It feels really good to get this one."
Houston: Myers (1-3, 4.79 ERA)
Toronto: Morrow (2-2, 4.85 ERA)
Houston, which plated 10 runs while batting .200 in its previous five contests, hit the five-run mark for just the second time in 16 games. The Astros, 4-0 all-time versus Toronto, haven't won two straight since winning three in a row April 30-May 2.
While Houston got back in the win column, the Blue Jays (22-22) lost for just the second time in nine games.
It was a rare poor showing from Toronto's bullpen, as its relievers gave up all five runs after yielding two runs in 21 innings over the previous seven contests.
"We have an awesome bullpen," Friday's starter Jo-Jo Reyes said. "That's not going to happen every night."
Unproductive nights from Jose Bautista are also a rarity.
Bautista was 0 for 3 with a walk in the opener, and is hitless in seven at-bats in his last two games after batting .405 with seven homers, 11 RBIs and seven walks during a nine-game hitting streak. The slugger is batting .190 in 18 interleague games since the start of last season.
Corey Patterson is suddenly swinging a hot bat for Toronto, batting .313 during a career high-tying 11-game hitting streak. Going 12 straight with a hit could be tough, however, as he is 1 for 19 (.053) lifetime against scheduled starter Brett Myers (1-3, 4.79 ERA).
After going 0-3 with a 7.88 ERA in his previous four starts, Myers gave up two runs and eight hits in six innings against Atlanta on Monday. The Astros lost 3-2 but Myers didn't get a decision.
Myers, who hasn't won since April 12, was pulled after throwing 110 pitches, and high pitch counts have kept him from going deep into games. The right-hander has averaged 109.4 pitches in his last five starts but has only made it past the sixth inning once.
Myers went 1-2 with a 3.48 ERA in three starts against the AL last season, and this will be his first career start against the Blue Jays. He made two relief appearances against Toronto in 2007, with Philadelphia.
The Blue Jays counter with Brandon Morrow (2-2, 4.85), who allowed three runs and five hits in five innings in Sunday's 11-3 win over Minnesota. Morrow, who opened the year on disabled list with right forearm inflammation, struck out eight Twins and now has 37 strikeouts in 26 innings over five starts.
With the victory at Target Field, Morrow improved to 2-0 with a 3.12 ERA in his three road starts but has recorded an 8.31 ERA in losing his two outings at Rogers Centre.
The right-hander made his only appearance against the Astros as a rookie for Seattle on June 17, 2007, allowing three runs in one-third of an inning of relief.
