Hunter Brown stars as the Astros shut out the Blue Jays 7-0

HOUSTON (AP) — Hunter Brown struck out a season-high nine in seven innings, and the Houston Astros beat the Toronto Blue Jays 7-0 on Monday night.

Brown (3-1) allowed two hits and walked one while extending his scoreless streak to 24 consecutive innings. Forrest Whitley finished the two-hitter.

It was Houston's second shutout of the season. Toronto was blanked for the second time this year.

Jose Altuve hit a two-run double, helping the Astros win for the third time in four games. Brendan Rodgers had two hits and two RBIs, and Zach Dezenzo had two hits and scored twice.

Toronto right-hander Kevin Gausman (2-2) allowed four runs and six hits in six innings.

Houston grabbed control with four runs in the fifth. Dezenzo doubled in Cam Smith and scored on Altuve's double off the scoreboard in left. Isaac Paredes added a run-scoring single.

The Blue Jays have been held scoreless in three of their last four games in Houston, including losses of 10-0 and 8-0 last April.

Rodgers closed out the scoring with a two-run double in the eighth.

Brown is 2-0 in his last three starts, striking out 16 in 19 innings while walking just three.

Toronto right-hander Chris Bassitt (2-0, 0.77 ERA) is slated to make his fifth start of the season on Tuesday against Houston right-hander Ronel Blanco (1-2, 6.48 ERA).

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against the Houston Astros' Zach Dezenzo (9) avoids a tag by Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk, right, to score on an RBI single by teammate Yordan Alvarez during the seventh inning of a baseball game Monday, April 21, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Kevin Gausman (34) delivers against the Houston Astros during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, April 21, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

Houston Astros second baseman Brendan Rodgers (1) completes a double play over Toronto Blue Jays' Bo Bichette, bottom, during the sixth inning of a baseball game Monday, April 21, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

Houston Astros' Zach Dezenzo, left, collides with Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Andres Gimenez, right, while sliding into second for a double during the seventh inning of a baseball game Monday, April 21, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

Houston Astros' Zach Dezenzo reacts after hitting an RBI double during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Monday, April 21, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

Houston Astros' Zach Dezenzo hits an RBI double against the Toronto Blue Jays during the fifth inning of a baseball game Monday, April 21, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

Houston Astros starting pitcher Hunter Brown delivers against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, April 21, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

Houston Astros starting pitcher Hunter Brown reacts after a double play that ended the top of the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Monday, April 21, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

Houston Astros' Jose Altuve, left, slides to score on a two-run double by teammate Isaac Paredes during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Monday, April 21, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., left, points to left fielder Alan Roden after Guerrero Jr. completed a double play off Houston Astros' Jose Altuve, center, during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, April 21, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

GUANARE, Venezuela (AP) — Freedom came too late for Edilson Torres.

The former police officer was set to be buried Tuesday in his humble, rural hometown following his death in a Venezuelan prison, where he was held incommunicado since his November detention on what his family said were politically motivated accusations. Hours ahead of the ceremony, his children, neighbors, police officers, friends and dozens others gathered to pay their respects.

Torres, 51, died of a heart attack on Saturday, just as his family awaited the government's promised release of prisoners following the U.S. capture of then-President Nicolás Maduro. His death comes as scores of families like his — who once hesitated to approach advocacy groups — are now coming forward to register their loved ones as “political prisoners.”

Alfredo Romero, director of the organization Foro Penal, a non-governmental organization that tracks and advocates for Venezuelan prisoners, said the group has received a “flood of messages” since last week from families.

“They didn’t report it out of fear, and now they’re doing it because, in a way, they feel that there is this possibility that their families will be freed,” Romero said. “They see it as hope, but more importantly, as an opportunity.”

The head of Venezuela’s national assembly said last week that a “significant number" of Venezuelan and foreigners imprisoned in the country would be released as a gesture to “seek peace.”

Romero explained that of the roughly 300 families who reached out, about 100 cases so far have been confirmed as politically motivated. Most of those reported over the past few days, he said, once worked for Venezuela's military.

As of Tuesday morning, Foro Penal had confirmed the release of 55 prisoners. While Venezuela's government reported a higher figure of 116, it did not identify them, making it impossible to determine whether those freed were behind bars for political or other reasons.

“My little brother, my little brother,” Emelyn Torres said between sobs after his casket, cloaked in Venezuela's flag, arrived at her home for the wake. A few feet away, their grandmother nearly fainted as dozens of people crammed into the living room to pay their respects.

Hours earlier, as a minivan transported the body of her brother 267 miles (430 kilometers) from the capital, Caracas, to Guanare, Torres learned that other men linked to the WhatsApp group that led to her brother's arrest had just been released from prison. She wailed. He did not live long enough to walk free.

Among those who have been released are: human rights attorney Rocío San Miguel, who immediately relocated to Spain; Biagio Pilieri, an opposition leader who was part of Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado’s 2024 presidential campaign; and Enrique Márquez, a former electoral authority and presidential candidate.

Italian businessman Marco Burlò, who was released from prison Monday, told reporters outside an international airport in Rome Tuesday that he was kept isolated throughout his detention, which he characterized as a “pure and real kidnapping.”

“I can’t say that I was physically abused, but without being able to talk to our children, without the right to defense, without being able to speak to the lawyer, completely isolated, here they thought that I might have died," he said.

Janetsky reported from Mexico City.

Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

Flor Zambrano, whose son, Rene Chourio, she says is detained at Zone 7 of the Bolivarian National Police for political reasons, embraces relatives of other detainees outside the facility in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

A photo of Edilson Torres, a Venezuelan police officer who died in prison a month after being arrested on accusations of treason, and his family adorns his coffin during his wake at his home in Guanare, Venezuela, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Relatives of Edilson Torres, a Venezuelan police officer who died in prison a month after being arrested on accusations of treason, sit by his coffin during his wake in Guanare, Venezuela, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Emelyn Torres leans over the casket of her brother, Edilson Torres, a Venezuelan police officer who died in prison a month after being detained on accusations of treason, during his wake at his home in Guanare, Venezuela, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Emelyn Torres and Maria Cristina Fernandez, the sister and grandmother of Edilson Torres, a Venezuelan police officer who died in prison after being detained on accusations of treason, embrace during his wake at his home in Guanare, Venezuela, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)