Kazuma Okamoto homers as Blue Jays edge Astros to reach .500

Kazuma Okamoto homered and doubled Monday night to help the Toronto Blue Jays defeat the visiting Houston Astros 4-2 in the opener of a three-game series.

A sacrifice fly by pinch hitter Myles Straw in the seventh snapped a 2-2 tie. Toronto outhit Houston 11-5 but stranded 13 runners in reaching .500 for the first time since May 29.

Houston scored once in the first against Dylan Cease. Jeremy Pena led off with a first-pitch single, Yordan Alvarez walked and Isaac Paredes drilled a one-out RBI single to left to extend his hit streak to seven games. Jose Altuve walked to load the bases before Yainer Diaz grounded into a double play.

Okamoto led off the Toronto second with a homer to left on a 3-2 sinker from Hunter Brown, who was making his second start since returning from a shoulder strain.

Brown worked out of a base-loaded, two-out jam in the third to complete his outing with one run allowed, four hits, two walks and two hit batters with four strikeouts in three innings.

AJ Blubaugh replaced Brown in the fourth and Toronto scored once after loading the bases with none out. Andres Gimenez singled and George Springer walked. Nathan Lukes reached first on a sacrifice bunt on third baseman Raynel Delgado's throwing error. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. lined a sacrifice fly to left.

Houston shortstop Jeremy Pena left with an apparent leg injury after fouling off the first pitch of the sixth. Pinch hitter Brice Matthews struck out, the 14th straight batter retired by Cease. The right-hander walked Alvarez and Christian Walker before Altuve blooped a two-out RBI single to right that tied the game. Braydon Fisher (3-2) replaced Cease, who allowed two runs, three hits and four walks with eight strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.

Houston's Enyel De Los Santos (0-2) allowed Daulton Varsho's infield single and Okamoto's double with one out in the seventh. Bryan King took over and allowed Straw's sacrifice fly to left.

Houston's Logan VanWey, recalled from Triple-A when Bryan Abreu was put on the restricted list, allowed three singles and Alejandro Kirk's sacrifice fly in the eighth.

Louis Varland pitched around a walk in the ninth to earn his 16th save.

--Field Level Media