By Ron Kaplan, contributor

Alex Bregman stroked his 51st double of the year Tuesday, driving in one run, as the Houston Astros (99-57) beat the host Toronto Blue Jays, 5-3. Kevin Pillar had a win-some, lose-some game. He hit his 15th homer, a two-run, two-out job to put his team (71-86) on the board in the fourth, and made another sterling defensive play. However, he struck out with the bases loaded in the fifth. Rowdy Tellez flied out as a pinch-hitter in the ninth.

Ryan Braun hit his 16th home run, a solo job mashed into the second deck, in two official at-bats. He also drove in a run with a walk as the Milwaukee Brewers (90-67) beat the host St. Louis Cardinals, 6-4.

Joc Pederson flied out as a pinch-hitter in the sixth for the LA Dodgers (88-69) in their 7-4 win over the host Arizona Diamondbacks. He remained in the game, going 0-for-1 with a walk.

Ian Kinsler did not appear for the Boston Red Sox as they won a franchise record 106th game (against 51 losses) with a 6-2 decision over the visiting Baltimore Orioles.

Ryan Lavarnway did not appear for the Pittsburgh Pirates (79-76) in their 6-1 win over the host Chicago Cubs.

Robert Stock did not appear for the San Diego Padres (63-94) in their 5-0 win over the host San Francisco Giants.

Gabe Kapler’s Philadelphia Phillies were crushed by the host Colorado Rockies, 10-1, to drop to .500 (78-78).

Ron Kaplan (@RonKaplanNJ) hosts Kaplan’s Korner, a blog about Jews and sports. He is the author of three books, including The Jewish Olympics: The History of the Maccabiah Games and Hank Greenberg in 1938: Hatred and Home Runs in the Shadow of War.

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