Astros cruise past the Blue Jays 5-1 behind 3 hits apiece from Jeremy Peña and Christian Walker

HOUSTON (AP) — Jeremy Peña and Christian Walker each had three hits and an RBI, and the Houston Astros cruised to a 5-1 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday night.

The Blue Jays were held to two hits for the second straight game.

Houston took a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Peña scored José Altuve on an infield single and Walker followed with a hit to score Yordan Alvarez. Peña scored on a sacrifice fly by Brendan Rodgers.

Toronto ace Chris Bassitt (2-1) settled in after the first, allowing four runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings. Bassitt entered with the second-best ERA in the majors at 0.77, which was the second lowest for a Toronto pitcher’s first four starts of a season.

Nathan Lukes homered in the third for Toronto, which has lost four straight games.

Astros starter Ronel Blanco (2-2) allowed two hits and one run in 6 2/3 innings. Last year, Blanco threw a no-hitter against Toronto in his first start of the season on April 1.

Isaac Paredes homered for Houston in the seventh to cap the scoring.

Houston has won four of its last five.

Houston’s first two hits were infield singles, but Walker’s RBI single to center field scored a run and put Alvarez in position for a sacrifice fly to follow.

Walker went 3 for 3 following a rest day on Monday. The Astros newcomer entered Tuesday hitting .156 and was mired in a 3-for-26 slump in his previous eight games.

Blue Jays RHP Bowden Francis (2-2, 3.13 ERA) will face Astros RHP Ryan Gusto (2-1, 3.18 ERA) in the series finale on Wednesday night.

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Houston Astros relief pitcher Bryan King throws against the Toronto Blue Jays during the seventh inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Houston Astros' Isaac Paredes, center, collects high fives in the dugout after his solo home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during the seventh inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Houston Astros' Isaac Paredes, center, waves his hand in front of his face as he rounds the bases on his solo home run as Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Yariel Rodríguez, right, walks off the mound during the seventh inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Houston Astros' Jeremy Pena (3) is caught on a run down by Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette, right, during the seventh inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Brendon Little throws against the Houston Astros during the sixth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena, right, juggles the catch as he crosses right fielder Cam Smith (11) on the fly ball by Toronto Blue Jays' Alan Roden during the fifth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Toronto Blue Jays's Nathan Lukes, left, gets help putting on The Blue Jacket from Jose Berrios, right, after Lukes' solo home run against the Houston Astros during the third inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Houston Astros' Brendan Rodgers, center, looks at his hand as he is escorted to first base by manager Joe Espada, left, and an unidentified trainer, right, after Rodgers was hit by a pitch from Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Chris Bassitt during the third inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Houston Astros' Yainer Diaz reacts at second base after his one-run RBI double against the Toronto Blue Jays during the sixth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Houston Astros' Jeremy Pena, left, and Isaac Paredes (15) celebrate the solo home run by Paredes against the Toronto Blue Jays during the seventh inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

ISLAMABAD (AP) — A gas cylinder explosion early Sunday after a wedding reception at a home in Pakistan’s capital killed at least eight people, including the bride and groom, police and officials said.

The blast occurred as guests who had gathered to celebrate the couple were sleeping at the house, causing part of the house to collapse, according to the Islamabad police. Seven people were injured.

In a statement, police said the explosion occurred in a residential area in the heart of the city. A government administrator, Sahibzada Yousaf, said authorities were alerted about the blast early Sunday and officers are still investigating. He said some nearby homes were also damaged.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over the loss of lives and offered condolences to the victims’ families, according to a statement from his office. He directed health authorities to ensure the injured receive the best possible treatment and ordered a full investigation.

Many Pakistani households rely on liquefied petroleum gas cylinders because of low natural gas pressure, and such cylinders have been linked to deadly accidents caused by gas leaks. Police said investigations were ongoing.

Government officials survey the damage of a home caused by a gas cylinder explosion hours after a wedding reception, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Ehsan Shahzad)