Astros turn the tables on Redmond
HOUSTON -- This was one of those nights where the youthful Astros figured something out, when their ability to adjust superseded their inexperience.
Befuddled by Toronto right-hander Todd Redmond four weeks earlier, the Astros throttled him in the rematch, recording eight extra-base hits, including a trio of triples, while bashing their way past the injury-plagued Blue Jays 12-4 on Friday night at Minute Maid Park.
Houston (42-85) reached double digits in runs for the second time this month, the other resulting in a 15-10 home loss to Boston on Aug. 6. This time Houston showcased the pitching to support an offensive onslaught that featured at least one base hit from every starter excluding designated hitter Chris Carter, who struck out four times. Three Astros -- L.J. Hoes, Matt Dominguez and Brett Wallace -- scored three runs apiece.
"After we see a guy one time and whether they had success against us or not, they do a great job of preparing these guys the next time we're able to see that particular pitcher," Houston manager Bo Porter said of Astros hitting coach John Mallee and assistant hitting coach Dan Radison. "Today is another prime example of guys just managing the at-bats well, really being patient getting something that they can handle, something they can drive. And that's why you saw all the extra-base hits."
Astros right-hander Jordan Lyles (6-6) allowed three home runs but pitched effectively into the eighth inning. Toronto third baseman Brett Lawrie chased Lyles with his two-run home run with one out in that frame, snapping the Blue Jays' streak of 10 consecutive solo homers.
Lyles lasted just five innings in his previous outing against Toronto. On Friday, he retired nine consecutive batters starting with two outs in the fourth.
"The first couple of innings, (catcher) Jason (Castro) and I really battled," Lyles said. "My command wasn't there and I was falling behind a lot of guys. The offense, you can't talk enough about them tonight. They made me be able to come out there in the fifth and just pound down and away fastballs and I got some quick outs and got the pitch count back in our favor. But really it was all about the offense tonight."
Toronto (57-72), with its starting outfield of Jose Bautista (left hip), Melky Cabrera (left knee) and Colby Rasmus (left oblique) on the 15-day disabled list, managed just one additional extra-base hit aside from the Lawrie blast and solo shots from Edwin Encarnacion and J.P. Arencibia.
"A loss is a loss," Toronto manager John Gibbons said in reference to his inexperienced lineup. "Like I said before, this is an opportunity for some young kids, and we expect them to produce. This is an opportunity for them to do that."
After producing a quality start in his first career appearance against the Astros on July 28 in Toronto, Redmond was ineffective throughout on Friday, exiting in the fourth inning with a nightmarish pitching line.
Redmond surrendered solo runs in the first, second and third innings before the Astros chased him with a five-run fourth. The first four batters of that frame reached base and scored off Redmond, with shortstop Jonathan Villar recording his second triple in as many at-bats prior to Hoes working a walk that sent Redmond to the showers.
Like Dominguez, who belted his 18th homer in the second, Hoes reached base and scored following each of his first three plate appearances. When Hoes came home on a Castro triple in the fourth, the Astros led 8-2.
Redmond (1-2) allowed a season-high eight runs (seven earned) on eight hits and three walks with six strikeouts over 3 1/3 innings.
"I was leaving the ball up," Redmond said. "I wasn't making my pitches today. Any major league team, if you leave the ball up, they are going to get hits.
"I would throw one good pitch then throw two bad pitches, and one of those two bad pitches would be a hit. I just didn't have it tonight."
NOTES: With LHP Aaron Loup on the paternity list, the Blue Jays filled his roster spot by recalling RHP Chien-Ming Wang from Triple-A Buffalo. Wang, who will start on Saturday, is 1-1 with a 7.13 ERA in five starts with Toronto. ... Blue Jays 2B Ryan Goins made his big league debut, finishing 2-for-4 with a double while batting ninth. A native of the Austin, Texas, suburb Round Rock, Goins was a fourth-round pick in 2009 out of Dallas Baptist University. ... By selecting the contract of C Cody Clark from Double-A Corpus Christi, the Astros increased the number of rookies on their active roster to 14.
