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Instant Reaction: Ernie Clement’s 10th inning home run lifts Blue Jays over Astros
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Photo credit: © Erik Williams-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Aug 5, 2026, 17:30 EDTUpdated: Aug 5, 2026, 18:20 EDT
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The Toronto Blue Jays have now won three consecutive series.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Blue Jays and Houston Astros played the series finale, with the good guys coming out on top thanks to a comeback victory. Let’s take a look at what went on in this one!
Jameson Taillon started this game for the Blue Jays. He got out of the bottom of the first inning unscathed, but couldn’t do the same in the bottom of the third. Jose Altuve hit a one-out solo home run, then Daulton Varsho got aboard with a single. With two outs, Christian Walker hit an RBI double, then was driven in thanks to a LaMonte Wade Jr. single.
It looked as if that was it for the Blue Jays’ bats, as they were no-hit by Hunter Brown through the first five innings. But with one out in the top of the sixth, Myles Straw hit his fourth extra-base hit of the series for the team’s first hit of the game. With two outs, Kazuma Okamoto drove in their first run.
That brought up Jesús Sánchez, who saw three straight balls. Given the green light on a 3-0 count, the former Astro hit a two-run home run nearly 400 feet to tie the game up at three. Tied after nine innings, the two teams played free baseball.
It took exactly one pitch in the top of the 10th for the Blue Jays to take the lead, as Ernie Clement hit a first-pitch fastball out of the ball park, thrown by his former college teammate, Bennett Sousa. Up 5-3, Nathan Lukes hit a two-out single, but was stranded after Kazuma Okamoto struck out.
With an exhausted bullpen, the Blue Jays turned to recently recalled Chase Lee to get three outs. On the second pitch he threw, Yordan Álvarez hit it into the right field corner to cash in a run. However, the future MVP was thrown out as Andrés Giménez faked him into not sliding, tagging him for the Jays’ first out. Two consecutive fly outs saw the Jays pull away will a 5-4 victory.

Takeaways….

The Blue Jays’ postseason odds remain slim, as they currently sit three games back with numerous teams to jump. But they’ve quietly won three consecutive series, taking two of three from the Washington Nationals, St. Louis Cardinals, and now the Astros.
Throughout the season, they’ve been looking for a turning point to their season, such as Bo Bichette’s ninth inning home run late last May. They haven’t gotten it yet, but maybe this win is it.
The Blue Jays received two clutch home runs. Jesús Sánchez tied it with one swing of the bat, his eighth of the season. Ernie Clement scored the game-winning run after hitting a nuke. Those two homers accounted for just five hits.
Myles Straw hit the Blue Jays’ other extra-base hit, breaking up the no-hit bid and starting the sixth inning rally. He had a terrific series against the Astros, the same team that drafted him over a decade ago.
It wasn’t a great start from Jameson Taillon, going just four innings while giving up three earned runs, two walks, and striking out four. Spencer Miles pitched the next two innings, striking out two and getting out of a jam in the bottom of the sixth, as the first two base runners reached. Thankfully, both were stranded in scoring position.
Tyler Rogers had an efficient inning, as did Louis Varland who had a nice bounce back game. Chase Lee picked up his first career save in the bottom of the 10th, as he was forced into the game due to a depleted bullpen.
The Blue Jays play a make up game against the Chicago Cubs on Thursday afternoon, weather permitting. Dylan Cease is the expected starter, and following that game, they’ll jet off to the City of Brotherly Love to take on the Philadelphia Phillies this coming weekend.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.
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