TORONTO — Astros starter Jason Alexander delivered exactly what his team needed on Wednesday night at Rogers Centre.
The right-hander spun seven scoreless innings in a 3-2 victory over the Blue Jays to set up a rubber match on Thursday. Alexander allowed only three hits, walked just one and struck out three.
He was backed by Carlos Correa’s 200th career home run in the top of the sixth and a go-ahead solo shot off the bat of Yainer Diaz in the ninth.
It was a big victory in the race for the American League West, with Houston (79-67) holding onto a one-game lead over Seattle (78-68). Texas (77-70) remains 2 1/2 games behind Houston after sweeping Milwaukee.
Houston has now won the last eight games Alexander has started.
Providing relief for a well-used bullpen was on Alexander’s mind when he went out to the mound Wednesday night.
“I was just trying to find a good rhythm,” Alexander said. “That’s what my goal is. I want to try and go as deep as I can and give us a chance to win and help out our bullpen. That’s the one thing I’m the most proud of.”
His start was almost undone in the eighth. Left-hander Steven Okert and right-hander Enyel De Los Santos combined to allow four hits and two runs to erase a 2-0 Astros lead.
But Diaz’s heroics and a clean ninth inning from closer Bryan Abreu secured the victory.
Given the way he’s pitched of late, Alexander’s role is likely to only expand with the losses of Garcia and Spencer Arrighetti, who’s set to get a second opinion on his right elbow after getting placed on the IL last Wednesday. It’s an opportunity Alexander feels ready for.
“Over the course of my career, I’ve tried to study from my losses as much as I can,” Alexander said.
“I just have the confidence right now. I’m confident in what I feel like I need to do out there, and all that really matters is execution.”
Manager Joe Espada praised Alexander’s ability to keep his team in the game.
“Jason does it, he finds a way to get people out,” Espada said. “He keeps people off balance, he gets the ground balls when he needs them. He’s been so good. He goes after hitters, he’s not afraid of contact. [It was] a marvelous job.”
Espada was also quick to compliment Abreu’s rebound effort after he blew a save opportunity by allowing two runs on Tuesday.
“We’ve had really good closers here, [Josh] Hader and [Ryan] Pressly,” Espada said.
“He’s the one that always goes unnoticed. When the game is on the line, I want him on the mound. I’m always counting the outs to when it’s Abreu time. That’s how much I trust him.”
