Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker, center, collects high fives in the dugout after his solo home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during the second inning of a baseball game Wednesday, April 23, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Christian Walker homers in 3-run 2nd, Astros beat Blue Jays 3-1 for series sweep
Original Publication Date: April 24, 2025 1:16PM
HOUSTON (AP) — Christian Walker homered in a three-run second, Ryan Gusto pitched well into the sixth and the Houston Astros beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-1 on Wednesday night to sweep the three-game series.
Walker led off the second with a home run to left off Bowden Francis (2-3), Yainer Diaz tripled and scored on Zach Dezenzo’s RBI single and Yordan Alvarez capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly.
Gusto (3-1) allowed one run on three hits with six strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. Gusto has allowed three runs or fewer in each of his three starts this season.
Bryan King pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings, and Bryan Abreu threw a scoreless eighth.
George Springer walked, and Ernie Clement doubled with one out in the ninth, but Josh Hader struck out Alejandro Kirk and induced a flyout by Myles Straw for his seventh save.
Houston Astros starting pitcher Ryan Gusto throws against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, April 23, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Houston has won five of its last six.
Springer hit an RBI double in the fourth for the Blue Jays. They have lost five straight games.
Francis surrendered three runs on eight hits in 4 2/3 innings. He has allowed three runs or fewer in four of his five starts.
Key moment
Hader striking out Kirk and getting Straw to flyout to center to end it.
Houston Astros’ Christian Walker (8) and Zach Dezenzo (9) celebrate the solo home run by Walker against the Toronto Blue Jays during the second inning of a baseball game Wednesday, April 23, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Key stat
The Astros swept the Blue Jays for the first time since they swept a four-game series in Houston on May 14-17, 2015.
Up next
Houston starts a three-game series Friday at Kansas City, with RHP Hayden Wesneski (1-1, 3.91 ERA) starting the opener. Toronto RHP José Berríos (1-1, 5.02) starts Friday night in the opener of a three-game series at the Yankees.
Houston Astros second baseman Mauricio Dubon (14) watches as Toronto Blue Jays’ George Springer, right, gestures to the dugout as he celebrates his one-run RBI double during the fourth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, April 23, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Chad Green throws against the Houston Astros during the sixth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, April 23, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)Houston Astros relief pitcher Bryan Abreu throws against the Toronto Blue Jays during the eighth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, April 23, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)Houston Astros catcher Yainer Diaz, right, waits for the throw as Toronto Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr., left, scores on the RBI double by George Springer during the fourth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, April 23, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette goes up to make the throw for an attempted double play against the Houston Astros during the fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, April 23, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Bowden Francis throws against the Houston Astros during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, April 23, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Bowden Francis throws against the Houston Astros during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, April 23, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Addison Barger makes the catch on the line drive by Houston Astros’ Jeremy Pena during the fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, April 23, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena (3) makes the throw to first base over umpire James Hoye (92) for the out against the Toronto Blue Jays during the eighth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, April 23, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)Houston Astros starting pitcher Ryan Gusto throws against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, April 23, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
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