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Jun 23, 2026 Major2
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Blue Jays Top Astros 4-2 on Straw's Sacrifice Fly, Okamoto's Homer
The Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Houston Astros 4-2 on June 22, 2026, powered by Kazuma Okamoto's home run and three sacrifice flies, including Myles Straw's go-ahead in the seventh. The Blue Jays bullpen, notably Braydon Fisher and Louis Varland (16th save), shut down Houston's late rally to lift Toronto back to .500.
Quick Facts
Who
Toronto Blue Jays
What
Blue Jays beat Astros 4-2
When
Monday, June 22, 2026
Where
Toronto
- Blue Jays beat Astros 4-2
- Myles Straw delivered go-ahead sacrifice fly in the seventh
- Kazuma Okamoto hit a home run and a double
- Louis Varland earned his 16th save
- Braydon Fisher earned the win
The Toronto Blue Jays rallied from an early deficit to defeat the Houston Astros 4-2 on Monday night, using three sacrifice flies and a strong bullpen performance to return to .500 for the first time since late May.
Pinch-hitter Myles Straw delivered the go-ahead run in the seventh inning with a sacrifice fly, capping a rally that began with a double from Kazuma Okamoto. Okamoto, who also homered earlier in the game, went 2-for-3 with a double, a home run, and an RBI as Toronto improved to 39-39.
Houston jumped ahead in the first inning when Jeremy Peña singled on the first pitch from Blue Jays starter Dylan Cease and scored on a one-out single by Isaac Paredes. Cease allowed two runs on three hits with four walks and eight strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings, leaving the game after Jose Altuve's two-out single tied the score at 2-2 in the sixth. Braydon Fisher (3-2) earned the win by retiring four batters on six pitches.
Toronto's other two sacrifice flies came from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the fourth inning, scoring Andrés Giménez, and from Alejandro Kirk in the eighth, scoring George Springer. Louis Varland worked the ninth inning, issuing a leadoff walk to Yainer Diaz but then inducing a double play from Joey Loperfido and striking out pinch-hitter Taylor Trammell to secure his 16th save.
Astros starter Hunter Brown lasted only three innings, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out three and walking two. Houston reliever Enyel De Los Santos (0-2) took the loss after giving up the go-ahead run in the seventh.
Peña left the game in the sixth inning after aggravating a previous hamstring injury on a swing.
Topics
Why This Matters
This game marks a turning point for the Blue Jays, who have climbed back to .500 for the first time since late May. For fantasy baseball players and bettors, Okamoto's power display and Varland's continued reliability as closer are key takeaways. The Astros, meanwhile, face uncertainty with Peña's recurring hamstring injury, potentially affecting lineup depth.
Timeline & Sources
Jun 22, 2026
WireGame starts; Jeremy Peña singles and scores on Isaac Paredes single – Astros 1-0
Jun 22, 2026
WireKazuma Okamoto leads off second with a home run to tie game 1-1
Jun 22, 2026
WireVladimir Guerrero Jr. sacrifice fly scores Andrés Giménez – Blue Jays 2-1
Jun 22, 2026
WireJeremy Peña leaves game due to hamstring injury
Jun 22, 2026
WireJose Altuve two-out single ties game 2-2; Dylan Cease exits after 110 pitches
Jun 22, 2026
WireBraydon Fisher enters, retires Yainer Diaz on comebacker
Jun 22, 2026
WireMyles Straw sacrifice fly in seventh gives Blue Jays 3-2 lead
Jun 22, 2026
WireAlejandro Kirk sacrifice fly scores George Springer in eighth – Blue Jays 4-2
Jun 22, 2026
WireLouis Varland secures save in ninth inning earns 16th save – final 4-2
Entities
- George Springer
- Alejandro Kirk
- Kazuma Okamoto
- Bryan King
- Braydon Fisher
- Dylan Cease
- Joey Loperfido
- Taylor Trammell
- Louis Varland
- Christian Walker
- Myles Straw
- Brice Matthews
- Yainer Diaz
- Hunter Brown
- Yordan Alvarez
- Jeremy Peña
- Houston Astros
- Enyel De Los Santos
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
- Jose Altuve
- Toronto Blue Jays
- Peter Lambert
- Tyler Rogers
- Toronto
- Isaac Paredes
- Andrés Giménez