Corey Julks hit his first career grand slam in a six-run first inning and the visiting Houston Astros defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 11-4 on Monday night.
Jake Meyers added a two-run home run, while Yordan Alvarez and Kyle Tucker had solo homers for Houston in the opener of a four-game series.
Yainer Diaz and Meyers each had four hits to lead Houston’s season-best 19-hit attack.
Houston’s Alex Bregman singled to extend his hitting streak to 12 games.
Alejandro Kirk and Daulton Varsho hit solo home runs for the Blue Jays, who had their four-game winning streak end.
Toronto right-hander Alex Manoah (1-7) retired only one batter in the first inning and allowed six runs, seven hits and one walk.
Houston right-hander Brandon Bielak (3-2) allowed three runs, 10 hits and one walk with two strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.
Mauricio Dubon led off the first with a single and Jeremy Pena followed with a bunt single that hugged the third base line. Alvarez hit an RBI single that deflected off first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to make it 1-0.
Tucker hit an RBI single with one out to tack on another run.
Jose Abreu walked to load the bases and Julks hit his fifth homer of the season, a drive to left.
Manoah allowed two more singles before Jay Jackson replaced him.
Kirk hit his third home run of the season with two outs in the second to make it 6-1.
Alvarez hit his 16th homer of the season, ripping a 452-foot blast to center with one out in the fourth against Trevor Richards. Tucker hit his eighth homer of the season, one out later, and Houston led 8-1.
Diaz doubled against Anthony Bass in the fifth and Meyers hit his sixth homer of the season to give the Astros a 10-1 cushion.
Kevin Kiermaier doubled and scored on Bo Bichette’s single in the home fifth.
Bielak allowed a walk, hit a batter and surrendered Guerrero’s RBI double in the home seventh before Seth Martinez replaced him.
Houston added a run in the eighth against Adam Cimber on a hit batter and an error on Bregman’s single.
Varsho hit his 10th homer of the season in the bottom of the eighth against Martinez.
–Field Level Media
