Blue Jays bullpen blows Jo-Jo Reyes' lead

Published November 20, 2014

TORONTO (Reuters) - Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Jo-Jo Reyes was in spectacular form attempting to secure his first win in 27 starts, but was let down by his bullpen as the Houston Astros rallied for a 5-2 win on Friday.

Reyes, who has not won a game since June 13 2008, did not allow a run through seven innings and held the Astros to five hits while striking out seven before leaving the game with a 2-0 lead.

Toronto reliever Jon Rauch then gave up two runs in the eighth inning and Frank Francisco allowed three more, including a two-run home run to Chris Johnson, in the ninth.

"I gave the team a chance to win and that's what I have to do," said Reyes. "Baseball is a funny game, stuff happens and they'll (bullpen) pick me up another night and I'll be thanking them."

Reyes' streak is one short of the record of 28 held by Matt Keough, who made 28 consecutive winless starts for Oakland in a period spanning the 1978 and 1979 seasons.

(Reporting by Mike Mouat in Windsor, Ontario; Editing by Greg Stutchbury and Peter Rutherford)

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