Josh Johnson gets knocked around again as Blue Jays lose to Astros
TORONTO - Josh Johnson dug himself a deep enough a hole that even the power-hitting Toronto Blue Jays couldn't get him out of it.
Johnson endured another bad start, his third in a row, as the Blue Jays' brief winning streak was snapped with an 8-6 loss to the Houston Astros on Saturday afternoon at Rogers Centre.
Unlike last time out when he only made it through two innings, Johnson gutted out his struggles against an Astros lineup that hit the ball hard on him for 5 2/3 innings. He allowed seven runs on seven hits, almost identical to his losing effort at the Baltimore Orioles on July 14.
Johnson wasn't the victim of circumstance or poor defence Saturday. The Astros jumped on him early and often, hitting three home runs and knocking his pitches all around the park.
The first four Astros batters reached base and scored, thanks to an RBI single by catcher Jason Castro and then a three-run home run by designated hitter Chris Carter. Fans at Rogers Centre offered up Bronx cheers when Johnson threw a strike to the next hitter, Brett Wallace.
By the time Johnson returned to the mound for the second, the Blue Jays got a run back, and he settled down.
Johnson retired 10 of the next 11 batters he faced, allowing no hits until Houston right-fielder Justin Maxwell's solo homer with two outs in the fourth. But in the theme of Johnson's recent performance, Matt Dominguez made it back-to-back home runs.
Boos from the crowd of 34,317 that started early in the game grew louder as Maxwell circled the bases and became stronger when Dominguez did the same. It has been that kind of season for Johnson.
When Dominguez drove in Maxwell for the Astros' seventh run with two outs in the sixth, Johnson's day was over. His eight strikeouts showed he had some command, but that wasn't much of a silver lining as his earned-run average jumped to 6.08.
The Blue Jays had significant pop, but not enough to match what Johnson gave up. Edwin Encarnacion continued his consistent season by driving in a run, and second baseman Mark DeRosa and centre-fielder Colby Rasmus each hit a solo home run.
They really got to Astros starter Dallas Keuchel in the eighth when trailing 8-3. Back-to-back singles from Jose Reyes and Melky Cabrera put Keuchel in a jam, and Jose Bautista made it a game with a three-run homer.
Houston closer Jose Veras kept the Blue Jays from causing more damage, and he pitched a scoreless ninth to pick up a five-out save, his 19th of the season.
Earlier, the Blue Jays had more opportunities to score runs on Keuchel. Instead, three times threats ended with double-play groundouts, by Brett Lawrie in the second, DeRosa in the fourth and Adam Lind in the sixth.
NOTES — Astros second baseman Jose Altuve left the game with tightness in his left quadriceps muscle. He was replaced by Jake Elmore. ... Blue Jays reliever Juan Perez, who allowed his first earned runs of the season Wednesday, gave up another one in 2 1/3 innings Saturday.
