logo
Instant Reaction: Blue Jays drop middle game of series with Astros in extra innings
alt
Photo credit: © Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Michael Coyle
Jun 24, 2026, 09:00 EDTUpdated: Jun 24, 2026, 13:10 EDT
Comments
The Toronto Blue Jays missed a chance to climb over the .500 mark on Tuesday afternoon, falling 9-7 to the Houston Astros in 11 innings. 
Former Blue Jays outfielder Joey Loperfido, whom the club sent to the Astros for Jesús Sánchez in February, launched a three-run home run off Braydon Fisher in the top of the 11th inning to drop the Blue Jays’ record to 39-40. 
After Jose Altuve opened the inning on second base, the Blue Jays (39-40) opted to intentionally walk Yordan Alvarez to set the Astros up with runners on first and second with nobody out. Fisher buckled down and struck out both Christian Walker and Isaac Paredes before Loperfido connected on a 1-2 curveball from Fisher and launched it 378 feet for his first home run of the season. 
Tuesday’s contest was a back-and-forth affair as the Astros jumped out to a 4-0 lead against Blue Jays’ starter Shane Bieber, who was making his season debut. After allowing one run in the first inning on a Paredes RBI single, Bieber settled down for two shutout frames before the wheels started to fall off in the top of the fourth inning. 
With one out in the fourth inning, the Astros launched back-to-back-to-back home runs off Bieber. Yainer Diaz got the run going when he launched a first-pitch cutter into the Blue Jays’ bullpen. Cam Smith then drove a slider 436 feet to left center field, which ended up being followed by Taylor Trammell launching a four-seam fastball into the right field 500-level seats for his first of the year. 
In his first start of the year, Bieber turned in a pitching line of 3.2 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 2 K and threw 75 pitches (50 strikes) in his first appearance since Game 7 of last year’s World Series. Bieber averaged 91.7 MPH with his fastball and will look to build on this outing the next time he gets the ball, which is scheduled for Sunday against the Texas Rangers. 
After falling behind 4-0, Luis Urías clubbed a two-run home run off Astros starter Peter Lambert for his first in a Blue Jays uniform. In his first game with the club after being acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for cash considerations, Urías went 2-for-5 with two RBIs and figures to give the Blue Jays’ lineup another right-handed bat option against left-handed pitchers. 
Daulton Varsho pulled the game even in the seventh inning when he launched a two-run shot of his own off Astros right-hander Enyel De Los Santos. Varsho has been a bright spot in the Blue Jays’ lineup since coming off the injured list, having gone 5-for-16 with two home runs and five RBIs. For the season, Varsho is batting .262 with seven home runs and 22 RBIs, and could be one of the major reasons for whether this offence can turn it around in the second half of the season. 
With the game tied entering the bottom of the eighth inning, in large part thanks to Jeff Hoffman escaping a bases-loaded one-out situation, Kazuma Okamoto delivered a two-out, two-run single off former Blue Jay Nate Pearson. Okamoto lined the ball to left field, in what was the second of his three hits on the afternoon. Okamoto has been on a surge over his past seven games, having gone 7-for-23 with two home runs and seven RBIs to help raise his season slash line to .241/.326/.790 with 17 home runs and 49 RBIs. 
The Blue Jays turned to Tyler Rogers in the ninth with Louis Varland unavailable, and the Astros were able to rally for two runs (one earned) off the right-hander. The Astros opened the frame with three of the first four batters singling to load the bases with only one out. With one out, Loperfido reached via catcher interference, which brought home Altuve before Smith lifted a sac fly to left field to tie the game at 6-6 and set the stage for Loperfido’s heroics two innings later. 
The Blue Jays will look for the series win on Wednesday when they send right-hander Trey Yesavage to the mound. The Astros will counter with fellow righty Mike Burrows, with first pitch set for 7:07 p.m. EST at Rogers Centre. 

PRESENTED BY THE BLUEJAYSNATION NEWSLETTER

Stay ahead of the first pitch! From breaking news, unexpected trades and must-read analysis, BlueJaysNation delivers the insight serious Jays fans rely on—straight to your inbox. Sign up for the Bluejaysnation newsletter here!
Editorials
MORE NEWS. IN YOUR INBOX.
CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

Breaking News