Blue Jays and Estrada win another low-scoring affair

The Toronto Blue Jays got it done with three swings of the bat and one brilliant pitching performance on Wednesday night in Houston, topping the Astros 3-1.

Starter Marco Estrada gave the Jays seven great innings, allowing just one earned run on four hits and striking out seven batters without issuing a single walk. Estrada also looked to be free of any back trouble, lowering his ERA to 2.92 with his outing.

After a quiet opening third to the game, Josh Donaldson got the Blue Jays started with a solo home run to the opposite field in the top of the fourth. In his next at-bat, Donaldson reenacted his first with another solo shot. The second blast represented Donaldson’s 27th of the season and his 76th RBI.

More from Jays Journal

• Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays advance to the Championship Series
• Blue Jays: Comparisons for Alek Manoah’s Second Season
• Blue Jays: Adam Cimber, the unlikely decision King
• Toronto Blue Jays: Has the Shift Killed Kevin Gausman’s 2022 Cy Young Hopes?
• Blue Jays: What Yusei Kikuchi’s latest stumble should mean

Sandwiched in between Donaldson’s two home runs was another solo shot from Jose Bautista, an encouraging sign for the Blue Jays as he continues to round the corner after returning from a turf toe injury. Russell Martin contributed to the offence, going 2-for-3 with a walk.

Joe Biagini entered in the eighth inning and allowed a leadoff double, but locked it down to retire Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa to end the inning with two runners in scoring position. Biagini lowered his ERA to 2.27 with the scoreless inning, and trails only closer Roberto Osuna in Toronto’s fWAR rankings among bullpen arms.

Speaking of Osuna, the young right-hander returned after a night off and recorded the save with a clean ninth.

The final game of the series goes at 8:10 p.m. Thursday night, with J.A. Happ (14-3, 3.16 ERA) chasing his 15th win of the season against Mike Fiers (7-4, 4.42 ERA).

Prior to the game, it was announced that recent trade addition Francisco Liriano would pitch on Friday against the Kansas City Royals with Aaron Sanchez pitching on Saturday.