HOUSTON — Chris Carter, Marwin Gonzalez and Evan Gattis homered and the Houston Astros beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-5 Saturday night for their fourth straight win.
This is the latest point in a season the AL West-leading Astros have been in first place since May 22, 2004, when they topped the NL Central. At 24-13, Houston has its best 37-game start since 1999.
Houston trailed 3-2 before Carter hit a three-run shot off reliever Liam Hendricks in the sixth inning. One out later, Gonzalez homered to centre field.
Toronto made it close late when pinch hitter Edwin Encarnacion connected for a two-run homer with two outs in the ninth off Luke Gregerson. But Gregerson recovered to get Josh Donaldson to fly out for his ninth save.
Scott Feldman (3-4) overcame a rough start to last 6 2-3 innings and strike out 10. It was his first win since April 30 against Seattle and came after back-to-back losing decisions to start May.
Russell Martin hit a two-run triple in the Toronto first and scored on Justin Smoak’s single for a 3-0 lead. The Blue Jays got only two more hits off Feldman.
Gattis hit his seventh homer, a two-run drive in the third off Marco Estrada.
Jeff Francis (1-2) replaced Estrada to start the sixth and got in trouble quickly, allowing Preston Tucker to single and Colby Rasmus to hit a ground-rule double. Hendricks relieved and Carter hit his sixth homer.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Blue Jays: 2B Devon Travis left the game with left shoulder irritation after striking out in the seventh. … SS Jose Reyes, on the disabled list (cracked rib) since April, took batting practice. He is expected to go on rehab assignment next week.
UP NEXT
Blue Jays: LHP Mark Buehrle (5-2, 5.54) will try to win his third straight decision.
Astros: RHP Collin McHugh (4-1, 3.50 ERA) will look to rebound after posting his first loss of the season Tuesday against San Francisco.
The Associated Press
