Astros vs. Blue Jays – Recap of the Game – September 26, 2018

TORONTO – Houston is warming up as the month of October approaches.

The Astros earned another title in the US West League and won 100 wins for a second season in a row, defeating the Toronto Blue Jays 4-1 on Tuesday night behind Alex Bregman's two-point homerun.

Houston improved to 100-57 and was assured of first place hours later when Oakland Athletics' second place (95-63) sank to the Seattle Mariners. The Astros will open home division playoffs against the Cleveland Indians on Oct. 5.

Astros manager A.J. Hinch had stated that he would not stay up to watch the result of the track and field match.

"I'm going to bed," he says. "Do you hear my voice, I'll wake up in the middle of the night and understand."

The Astros need three wins in their last five games to break the franchise record by winning a season, set in 1998.

"I'm proud of this team and they have not finished yet," Hinch said. "To be 100 years old and to climb is remarkable for this team, and we should be very proud."

Houston is 18-4 in September and 54-22 on the road, the two best in the majors.

"We really only played our best baseball recently," said Bregman. "It's a good sign before the playoffs, I think we're in a good position at the moment."

Roberto Osuna only needed six shots in ninth place for his 20th stop on 21 occasions. Earlier Tuesday, the charges of assaulting Osuna were dropped because the complainant, who lives in Mexico, made it clear that she would not be going to Toronto to testify. Osuna agreed to stay away from the alleged victim for a year and continue to receive counseling.

Traded from Toronto to Houston in July, Osuna was booed by Blue Jays fans for the second consecutive game, starting with his entry and then between the shots. Speaking through a translator, Osuna said that he was not troubled by the negative reaction.

"When I went into the game, I was focused on what I had to do, so it did not affect me," he said.

Josh James (2-0) allowed a run and four hits in five innings in his third league start.

"It was probably the least effective outlet of his young career," Hinch said. "He had to face delivery problems."

Bregman went 2-for-5 and extended his stellar history by reaching 53 games, the longest in 59 years by Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees in 2006 and 2007.

Bregman hit his 31st circuit, a two-point run in Sam Gaviglio's first off-off.

Billy McKinney's sixth-round deficit halved Toronto's deficit in the third period, but Houston expanded to sixth when Tyler White chased Gaviglio with RBI and Evan Gattis.

Gaviglio (3-9) allowed four points – three earned – and six hits in five or more innings, his fifth consecutive winless run. With Toronto's starting rotation against injuries throughout the season, Gaviglio made 23 career starts for the two-time Blue Jays.

"It has been a good experience, a lot of learning," he said. "I would have liked to be a little more consistent."

PRESSLY IMPRESSING

Astros RHP Ryan Pressly beat Toronto's Justin Smoak on three throws to leave the bases charged to the seventh. Pressly has not allowed a race in its last 20 games.

"I love Pressly against anyone in the league right now," Hinch said. "He has effective balls and he has 96 to 97s he needs them."

TRAINER ROOM

Astros: SS Carlos Correa (back) missed his sixth consecutive game. Correa should return on Wednesday and begin the designated hitter.

Blue Jays: RHP Aaron Sanchez suffered an end-of-season operation on Tuesday with his hard right forefinger, and he should be ready for spring training. The surgery was performed in Los Angeles by Dr. Steven Shin. The Blue Jays did not disclose the details of the operation or say what it was supposed to fix. Sanchez went 4-6 with a 4.89 ERA in 20 starts, including a 1-1 record and 6.04 in five starts after returning from a 54-game absence. Sanchez was injured hours before the start of June 21 at the Los Angeles Angels when his finger was caught in a suitcase. … INF Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (left thigh tense) will miss the rest of the season. Gurriel is injured by running a ground ball in the first leg on Monday.