Blue Jays 4, Astros 0
TORONTO -- Left-hander Mark Buehrle shut out the Houston Astros on two hits and Maicer Izturis drove in two runs as the Toronto Blue Jays snapped a seven-game losing streak with 4-0 victory Thursday.
In ending the Blue Jays' longest losing skid of the season, Buehrle (6-7) had a season-high nine strikeouts -- his highest total since 2005 when he had 12 in a game -- and walked two. He recorded the ninth shutout and 29th complete game of his career.
Jose Reyes had three hits for the Blue Jays, who won for the first time since to All-Star break. Adam Lind and Edwin Encarnacion each added an RBI.
The Astros, who were starting a 10-game road trip after going 1-5 on a homestand, have lost two in a row.
Houston left-hander Erik Bedard (3-8) allowed three hits, one walk and one run while striking out six in five innings. Right-hander Lucas Harrell took over in the sixth and allowed three runs in the seventh.
The Astros did not have a runner reach second base until the sixth, when Brandon Barnes was hit by a pitch and was sacrificed to second by Jonathan Villar. Buehrle retired the next two batters on grounders.
J.D. Martinez doubled to left-center with one out in the seventh to give the Astros their second hit of the game. Brett Wallace struck out and Maxwell grounded out.
The Blue Jays took a 1-0 lead in the fourth. Jose Bautista walked with two outs and came around to score on Encarnacion's double to right field. Encarnacion was out trying for a triple. It was Toronto's second hit of the game.
Bautista and Encarnacion drew walks to start the home seventh against Harrell. Pinch hitter Lind drilled a double off the left-field wall to increase the lead to 2-0. Izturis ended an 0-for-14 slump with a two-run single.
NOTES: Blue Jays RHP Brandon Morrow (forearm) will be out for about another six weeks after being diagnosed with an entrapped radial nerve in his right forearm. He has been on the disabled list since May 29. ... Toronto 3B Brett Lawrie primarily will remain at third base after he was tried at second base, manager John Gibbons said. Gibbons likes the plays Lawrie is able to make at third. ... Astros outfielders Barnes (calf strain) and Martinez (back contusion) were back in the lineup Thursday after being injured Tuesday and not playing Wednesday. ... RHP R.A. Dickey (8-11, 4.75 ERA) will start for the Blue Jays against RHP Jordan Lyles (4-4, 4.78 ERA) in Friday's second game of the series. ... The game drew a crowd of 24,188 at Rogers Centre.
