Kirk goes deep as the Blue Jays snap the Astros’ 6-game streak in a 3-1 win

HOUSTON (AP) — Alejandro Kirk homered, Jesús Sánchez and Ernie Clement each had an RBI and the Toronto Blue Jays beat Houston 3-1 on Monday night, snapping the Astros' six-game winning streak.

Shane Bieber (3-2) bounced back after walking a career-high six batters while just getting two outs in his last start. He tied a season high with nine hits allowed but gave up just one run with two walks in 5 2/3 innings.

Tyler Rogers pitched a scoreless ninth for his third save.

Jose Altuve had two hits and Jeremy Peña drove in a run for the Astros, who failed to get an extra-base hit and left 13 men on base.

There were two on with two outs in the sixth when an RBI single by Peña cut the lead to 3-1 and chased Bieber.

Braydon Fisher took over and the Blue Jays intentionally walked Yordan Alvarez to give him a major league-leading 23 intentional walks this season and load the bases. But Fisher retired Isaac Paredes on a fly out to end the inning.

The Astros had another chance to cut the deficit with two outs in the eighth, but Brendon Little struck out Alvarez with a runner on first.

Center fielder Daulton Varsho made his Astros debut just hours after being traded from the Blue Jays for right-hander Spencer Arrighetti. Varsho singled and walked while batting cleanup for a team that has struggled to get meaningful offensive contributions from its outfielders for most of the season.

Houston starter Cristian Javier (1-2) yielded seven hits and three runs in six innings.

Struggling right-hander Tatsuya Imai made his first career relief appearance in the majors after making 15 starts for the Astros and struck out five in three hitless innings.

Kirk gave Toronto an early lead with his home run to open the second inning.

Kazuma Okamoto and George Springer hit consecutive singles to begin the fourth before Okamoto scored on a one-out single by Sánchez that made it 2-0. Clement's sacrifice fly sent Springer home to push the lead to 3-0.

Toronto RHP Trey Yesavage (5-5, 3.73 ERA) opposes RHP Hayden Wesneski (1-0, 4.76) when the series continues Tuesday night.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Houston Astros pitcher Tatsuya Imai throws against the Toronto Blue Jays during the seventh inning of a baseball game Monday, Aug. 3, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Toronto Blue Jays' Kazuma Okamoto hits a single against the Houston Astros during the fourth inning of a baseball game Monday, Aug. 3, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Houston Astros starting pitcher Cristian Javier throws against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, Aug. 3, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Shane Bieber throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros Monday, Aug. 3, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Toronto Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk celebrates after hitting a home run against the Houston Astros during the second inning of a baseball game Monday, Aug. 3, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) — A judge in Honduras ruled Monday that former President Juan Orlando Hernández, who recently returned to the Central American country after a Trump pardon for drug trafficking charges in the U.S., will not be jailed during his trial for fraud and money laundering.

The case is being closely watched as a litmus test for the country’s justice system after critics say the former leader ruled with impunity for years.

Hernández, once considered an ally by the U.S. in the drug war, led Honduras from 2014 to 2022, during which he boasted that he would “shove the drugs right up the noses of the gringos,” according to U.S. prosecutors.

He was extradited to the United States for his drug trafficking trial shortly after leaving office and was sentenced to 45 years in prison. U.S. President Donald Trump unexpectedly pardoned him last year and backed his party's candidate for president, Nasry Asfura, who took office in January.

Hernández, 57, faces charges related to a case known as Pandora I, which alleges that a network of former high-ranking officials from 2010 to 2013 participated in the expansion and approval of public funds disbursements totaling more than $10.8 million, or around 288 million lempiras, to various foundations, according to an investigation by the country’s Specialized Prosecutor’s Unit Against Corruption Networks, or UFERCO.

According to UFERCO, Hernández benefited from these disbursements, receiving at least $2.3 million, around 62 million lempiras, for his political campaign through various schemes, including the creation of shell companies, the use of straw men and fictitious contracts.

Other high-level officials implicated in Pandora I whose cases have been dismissed indicate the likely outcome for Hernández, according to legal experts.

The former president remained in the U.S. until his arrest warrant in Honduras was suspended by a judge in June.

Prosecutors requested that he remain in custody while his case is ongoing, but the judge denied the request Monday. However, the court placed some restrictions on Hernández. He is barred from leaving the country and must check in with the court on a weekly basis.

Hernández has denied the charges against him and said he willingly faces the case against him, which "lacks any legal basis.”

He will return to court for his next hearing on Aug. 12.

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

FILE - Honduras' President Juan Orlando Hernandez speaks during the opening ceremony of the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, Monday Nov. 1, 2021. (Andy Buchanan/Pool via AP, File)

Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández is surrounded by supporters after his arrival to Toncontin airport in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Sunday, July 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Destephen)

Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández waves after his arrival to Toncontin airport in Tagucigalpa, Honduras, Sunday, July 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Destephen)