HOUSTON — Hunter Brown struck out a season-high nine over seven strong innings and the Houston Astros beat the Toronto Blue Jays 7-0 on Monday night.
Brown allowed two hits and one walk. He extended his scoreless streak to 24 consecutive innings. Forrest Whitley came on to finish the two-hitter and close out the shutout.
Houston put the game away with a four-run fifth inning. Zach Dezenzo doubled in Cam Smith and then scored on a Jose Altuve double that hit the scoreboard in left. Isaac Paredes followed with a run-scoring single.
Jose Altuve’s two-run double helped fuel the rally. Brendan Rodgers finished with two hits and two RBIs. Dezenzo also had two hits and scored twice as Houston won for the third time in four games.
Toronto starter Kevin Gausman allowed four runs and six hits in six innings. The Blue Jays have been held scoreless in three of their last four games in Houston, including 10-0 and 8-0 losses here last April.
Key moment
Rodgers closed out the scoring with a two-run double in the eighth.
Key stat
Brown is 2-0 in his last three starts, striking out 16 in 19 innings while walking just three.
Up next
Toronto right-hander Chris Bassitt (2-0, 0.77 ERA) is slated to make his fifth start of the season on Tuesday against Houston right-hander Ronel Blanco (1-2, 6.48 ERA).
