Loperfido's 11th-Inning Homer Lifts Astros Over Blue Jays 9-7

Joey Loperfido hit a tiebreaking three-run home run in the 11th inning to give the Houston Astros a 9-7 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday. The Astros also hit three consecutive home runs in the fourth inning, while Toronto's Kazuma Okamoto had three RBIs in the losing effort.

Quick Facts

Who

Joey Loperfido

What

Astros beat Blue Jays 9-7

When

Tuesday night

Where

Toronto

Astros beat Blue Jays 9-7
Loperfido hits tiebreaking three-run home run in 11th inning
Astros hit three consecutive home runs in the fourth inning
Blue Jays leave 13 runners on base
Joey Loperfido

TORONTO (AP) — Joey Loperfido hit a tiebreaking three-run home run in the 11th inning, lifting the Houston Astros to a 9-7 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday night.

Loperfido's first homer of the season came off former Toronto teammate Braydon Fisher, a 444-foot blast. With automatic runner Jose Altuve at second base to begin the 11th, the Blue Jays intentionally walked Yordan Alvarez. Fisher struck out Christian Walker and Isaac Paredes before Loperfido connected.

The game featured a historic Houston power display earlier in the contest. Yainer Diaz, Cam Smith and Taylor Trammell hit consecutive home runs in the fourth inning off Toronto starter Shane Bieber. It marked the first time the Astros had hit three straight homers since Altuve, Alex Bregman and Alvarez did it against Texas on July 19, 2019.

Kazuma Okamoto went 3 for 4 with two walks and three RBIs for Toronto, and Daulton Varsho and Luis Urías each hit two-run home runs. But the Blue Jays left 13 runners on base and couldn't overcome Houston's late rally.

After Okamoto's two-out single put Toronto up 6-4 in the eighth, the Astros tied it against Tyler Rogers in the top of the ninth. Loperfido drove in the first run when Blue Jays catcher Brandon Valenzuela was called for interference with the bases loaded, and Cam Smith followed with a sacrifice fly. The blown save was Rogers' third.

Logan VanWey (1-0) gave up Okamoto's RBI single in the ninth and worked two innings for his first career win.

Making his first start of the season, Bieber allowed four runs and nine hits, including three homers, in 3 2/3 innings. The 2020 AL Cy Young Award winner with Cleveland was activated off the injured list before the game after missing time with elbow inflammation.

Toronto's Ernie Clement (left hip) did not play.

The series continues Wednesday, with Blue Jays right-hander Trey Yesavage (3-3, 3.76 ERA) scheduled to start against Astros right-hander Mike Burrows (3-8, 5.79).

Topics

Sports

#Houston Astros #Toronto Blue Jays #baseball #Joey Loperfido #home run #extra innings #MLB

Why This Matters

This game highlights the Astros' resilience and power depth, as they overcame a late deficit with clutch hitting in extra innings. Fantasy baseball managers should note Loperfido's sudden heroics and the ongoing struggles of Blue Jays reliever Tyler Rogers, who blew his third save. The Astros' three consecutive homers in the fourth inning also signal a potent lineup even without injured stars like Kyle Tucker.

Timeline & Sources

Jun 23, 2026

Wire

Shane Bieber makes first start of the season, allows four runs in 3 2/3 innings