HOUSTON — In a commanding performance, Hunter Brown extended his scoreless innings streak to 24 as the Houston Astros shut out the Toronto Blue Jays 7-0 on Monday night, April 21, 2025. Brown, who improved his record to 3-1, struck out a season-high nine batters over seven dominant innings, allowing just two hits and one walk. His remarkable streak is the longest in Major League Baseball this season and the longest by an Astros starter since Cristian Javier had 25 1/3 scoreless innings in 2022.
The Astros, riding the momentum of their ace’s performance, capitalized on a disastrous fifth inning for the Blue Jays, scoring four runs and seizing control of the game. It all started when Cam Smith reached base with a soft fly single that fell between George Springer and Andrés Giménez. Following that, Brendan Rogers hit a single, and Zach Dezenzo lined a double over Springer’s head, scoring the first run of the inning. Jose Altuve then added a two-run double that pushed the score to 3-0, followed by a single from Isaac Paredes that capped off the scoring for the inning.
Despite the onslaught, the Blue Jays had their moments. George Springer led off the second inning with a single and showcased his speed by stealing both second and third base. However, the Jays couldn’t capitalize on that opportunity, as they left Springer stranded at third after two strikeouts and a flyout ended the inning. It was a frustrating night for the Blue Jays, who managed only three base runners throughout the game, with Springer’s hit being one of the two they logged against Brown.
Toronto’s right-hander Kevin Gausman (2-2) matched zeros with Brown until the fifth, when everything unraveled. He allowed four runs on six hits over six innings, struggling to keep the Astros at bay after the explosive fifth. Gausman’s performance was overshadowed by Brown’s brilliance, as he faced a lineup that was relentless after finding their rhythm.
As the game progressed, Houston continued to pile on the runs, adding one more in the seventh and two in the eighth inning, with Rogers closing out the scoring with a two-run double. The Astros’ offense was firing on all cylinders, with Dezenzo and Rogers each contributing two hits and a couple of RBIs to the cause. This victory marked Houston's second shutout of the season and underscored their dominance over Toronto, who has now been blanked twice this year.
With the loss, the Blue Jays have struggled in their recent outings in Houston, having been held scoreless in three of their last four games against the Astros, including previous shutouts of 10-0 and 8-0 last April. The team will be eager to turn things around in their next matchup.
Looking ahead, the Blue Jays will send Chris Bassitt (2-0, 0.77 ERA) to the mound for his fifth start of the season against Houston's Ronel Blanco (1-2, 6.48 ERA) on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. Fans will be hoping for a better offensive performance from Toronto as they seek to bounce back from this disappointing defeat.
In conclusion, Hunter Brown’s stellar pitching and the Astros’ offensive outburst combined to deliver a decisive 7-0 victory over the Blue Jays, leaving Toronto with much to ponder as they prepare for their next challenge.
