Blue Jays thumped by Astros as Correa cranks pair of home runs

Zack Greinke pitched his first complete game since 2017, Carlos Correa homered twice and Martin Maldonado hit a grand slam, leading the Houston Astros over the Toronto Blue Jays 13-1 on Friday night.

Maldonado drove in five runs and Aledmys Diaz also homered as Houston handed the Blue Jays their first loss in three games at their temporary home in Buffalo.

Greinke (6-2) gave up six hits, walked one and struck out three, throwing 102 pitches.

"This was one of the first times where I felt really strong at the end," Greinke said. "Most games I feel a little tired later on. Today it felt just as good, if not better, in the last inning, as it did in the first inning."

The win was the 214th of Greinke's career, tying him with Mark Buehrle and Rick Reuschel for 91st on the all-time list.

The Astros won for the fifth time in six games.

Houston manager Dusty Baker enjoyed watching Greinke and his club's 13-run see outburst after mustering only a ninth-inning run on Thursday against Boston.

"He had everything working," Baker said. "Fastball, breaking ball, including his defense up the middle. He's been a lifesaver not only for us, but our bullpen. It's fun to watch him pitch. [Scoring runs is] very important for the confidence of the team. Nobody wants to be left out."

Randal Grichuk homered for Toronto, which absorbed its largest margin of defeat since a 20-6 loss at Yankee Stadium last Sept. 15.

Toronto starter Hyun Jin Ryu (5-3) allowed seven runs on seven hits and three walks in 5 2/3 innings. He struggled after retiring his first seven batters, finishing with more walks than strikeouts for the first time since April 2, 2018. Ryu fanned a season low of just one against the Astros.

"Ryu was one pitch away from getting out of trouble and keeping us in the game," Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said. "Everybody in our bullpen has to pick somebody else up."

Correa hit a solo homer in the fifth for a 3-0 lead. Maldonado's second career slam broke the game open in the sixth and ended Ryu's night. Correa hit a three-run shot in the eighth to give him his 10th career multihomer game.

"It's good when you work so hard on a daily basis to have consistent at-bats," Maldonado said. "I've been seeing the ball good."

Baker gave Maldonado a lot of credit, too.

"He's been working religiously and tirelessly in the cage," Baker said. "He was better than he was swinging, and getting a little frustrated in the last week. We're glad he had a big night."