Astros Lose to the Jays in the rubber match + Texans Training Camp

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Payne & Pendergast

Episode: Astros Lose to the Jays in the Rubber Match + Texans Training Camp
Date: August 6, 2026
Hosts: Seth Payne & Sean Pendergast
Podcast: Houston’s go-to sports talk | Audacy

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Overview

This episode dives into the Houston Astros’ dramatic series loss to the Toronto Blue Jays—highlighting a critical baserunning blunder—and shifts to lively, in-depth updates from Houston Texans training camp. Seth and Sean dissect the Astros’ late-game mishap, analyze managerial decisions, and bring fiery optimism (with due caution) to the early reports on the Texans’ offense and offensive line depth. They also briefly discuss Stephon Diggs’ move to Washington and tease deeper QB talk to come.

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Astros vs. Blue Jays: Rubber Match Recap

Yordan Alvarez’s Baserunning Blunder (00:46–03:50)

• Game Recap: Astros lose 5–4 to the Blue Jays in 10 innings, conceding the series despite leading the AL West by 1.5 games. The key play was Yordan Alvarez getting thrown out at second, quashing a rally.

  • “[Yordan] promptly laces a double down...ended up being a single with him getting thrown out at second. But Peña scores on the play to make it 5–4. It looked like you were going to have runner on second, nobody out, down by one run. And instead Yordan...chooses not to slide...and, at least according to the umpire, he came up just short of the base. Heads up play by the Blue Jays infielder.” —Sports Analyst 2 (01:12–01:55)

• Hosts’ Take on Yordan’s Habitual Hesitance to Slide:

  • “Anytime you don’t slide, there’s a level of casualness... So I think…this is the exact time [he needed to slide].” —Sports Analyst 2 (02:49)
  • Joking about being “anti-Yordan sliding” club: “I am very anti Yordan sliding vocally, so I have my own Reddit group for it. I’ve got a club anti-Yordan sliding tattoo on your left buttock.” —Sports Analyst 2, joked by Analyst 1 (03:10–03:19)

• Manager’s Perspective & Challenge:

  • Joe Espada postgame: “No, I think I saw enough there. I think his foot was in the bag. And I don’t know if he called him out because the foot came off or not, but looked to me like he beat the play.” —(03:35)
  • Sean and Seth relayed that Alvarez himself admitted after the game: “Yeah, I think my foot was off the bag. Yeah. I don’t think I made it.” —Sports Analyst 2 (04:08)
  • “[Espada] got tossed. And the Astros lose 5 to 4 yesterday. That was a big swing in that game...” —Sports Analyst 2 (01:55–02:24)

• Division Outlook:

  • Astros retain slim AL West lead; off day before heading to West Coast to face the Padres.

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Texans Training Camp: Early Takeaways & Optimism

Offense Looks “Hell of an Offense” (04:09–06:27)

• Insider Impression from Henry To’oTo’o (LB):

  • “Man, they moving fast. Line looks really good. CJ’s making great decisions and the running backs...man, them running backs, is they good now?...They ball, like they can move and when they get clicking, it’s over. Like, I don’t think nobody can stop them. They’re that good and they’re putting all the pieces together and they’re a hell of an offense, I’m telling you. Hell of an offense.” —Henry To’oTo’o (06:00–06:27)

• Hosts Temper Enthusiasm:

  • “I’ve had that thought before where I’m trying not to get too excited over non-tackle football, but that is still a very, very good defense that practices really hard out there and some of the plays that the Texans are making are plays that they didn’t have a prayer of making last year during training camp...Do I dare to start comparing them to other offenses just yet? I’m going to need to see the first couple of preseason series.” —Sports Analyst 1 (06:27–06:58)

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Offensive Line Depth & Competition (06:59–08:36)

• Comparison to Previous Camps:

  • “The starting offensive line wasn’t even together at any point in the preseason game...until the final. Like, for a series on the final [preseason game]...your risk of injury goes up, but your risk of sucking goes up too if you don’t have your offensive line out there for at least a few series altogether.” —Sports Analyst 1 (06:59–07:35)

  • This year, greater competition and depth: “...other than Ariante or Street, they’re shuffling everybody around—even between, you know, Keelum Rutledge has played guard and center. The competition at right tackle is a really good one with Braden Smith and Trent Brown right now. This is a better offensive line room overall, talent-wise, than that one two years ago.” —Sports Analyst 2 (07:35–08:07)

• Better Depth, Real Starters on the Bench:

  • “The depth in the actual competition...these are bona fide—there’s going to be backups who are bona fide starters on other teams.” —Sports Analyst 1 (08:17)

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NFL Headlines: Quick Hits

Stefon Diggs Signs with Washington (08:36–09:42)

• News & Commentary:

  • “Stefon Diggs has found a home. He is a Washington Commander, one year up to $12 million.”

  • Joking about player rivalries: “Brandon Aiyuk comment on that? Not that I’ve seen yet. That’s who I want to see Brandon Aiyuk go after because I feel like Diggs might fire back...” —Sports Analysts 1/2 (08:46–08:53)

  • “Diggs has been more productive recently, and, you know, on the football field has not been a character risk...He’s got a certain cachet...” —Sports Analyst 1 (09:02)

  • On lawsuit mentions in media: “At the very end...a paragraph or two on the lawsuit he was kind of exonerated from...and then there’s a sentence at the very end says Diggs still has two outstanding pending civil lawsuits.” —Sports Analyst 2 (09:17–09:40)

Player Conduct and Drama

• “Even when he’s not technically at fault, man, you put yourself in a lot of hairy situations…you’re walking drama, man.” —Sports Analyst 2 (10:03–10:11)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I am very anti Yordan sliding vocally, so I have my own Reddit group for it.” —Sports Analyst 2 (03:10)
• “They’re putting all the pieces together and they’re a hell of an offense, I’m telling you.” —Henry To’oTo’o (06:12–06:27)
• “Your risk of injury goes up, but your risk of sucking goes up too if you don’t have your offensive line out there for at least a few series altogether in the preseason games.” —Sports Analyst 1 (07:25–07:35)

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Segment Timestamps

• [00:46–04:09] — Astros’ late-inning miscue, Alvarez’s baserunning, Espada ejection
• [04:09–06:27] — Texans Training Camp: To'oTo'o interview, offense optimism
• [06:27–08:36] — O-Line depth and competition analysis
• [08:36–09:42] — Stefon Diggs to Washington, NFL news & player reputations

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Overall Tone: A blend of sharp, insider sports analysis, self-deprecating jokes, and measured optimism—rooted in the personalities of long-time Houston sports radio voices.
For new listeners: This episode offers an authentic window into the ups and downs of Houston’s baseball and football scenes, with fast-moving takes and plenty of good-natured ribbing.

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Transcript

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[Sports Analyst 1]

Payne and Pendergast with today's headlines. Smashes one fair ball to the wall and right into score. Pena, Yordon dig it for second. He will be out at second. Bas a great throw by Nathan Lucas to get Yordan and Jordan cannot believe that throw was on him. And the tag made by Jimenez for a huge first out of the inning.

[Sports Analyst 2]

All right, that was a big play in that game yesterday. The Astros lose 54 to the Toronto Blue Jays. So they lose this series to the Blue Jays, still leading in the AL west by a game and a half over the Rangers, who won yesterday 5 to 4. The final score in 10 innings, 5 to 3 going into the bottom of the 10th after an Ernie Clement home run off of Bennett Sousa put the Blue Jays up 5 to 3. Pena. Pena was on second base to start the inning. Jordan Alvarez was your leadoff batter for that inning. And Jordan promptly laces a double down. Well, it looked like it was supposed to be a double, ended up being a single with him getting thrown out at second. But Pena scores on the play to make it 5 4. And it looked like you were going to have runner on second, nobody out, down by one run. And instead Jordan, who for. For whatever reason, the rare time he chooses not to slide, he goes into second base standing up. And at least according to the umpire, he. He came up just short of the base, you know, fraction of an inch short. Heads up play by the Blue Jays infielder there to tag him. And they challenged the play. Espada. They lost the challenge. Espada went out, argued it got tossed and. And The Astros lose 5 to 4 yesterday. That was a big. That was a big swing in that game in that bottom.

[Sports Analyst 1]

Yeah, and it was. You know, it's funny, I felt bad for you because it puts you in a pickle because you hate it when you are on stage. And yet in the very instance, because he'll do. He'll do some superfluous slides where you're like, hey, big fella, he loves slides. Don't. Don't put yourself in harm's way. And this is the exact time. And he didn't even get deeked by the Deke, either. He just. He said he just had his head down and just. He thought it was a double looking for the bag. Yeah, yeah.

[Sports Analyst 2]

He just thought. He thought he had.

[Sports Analyst 1]

Well, he wasn't casually rolling in there.

[Sports Analyst 2]

And I think anytime you don't slide, there's a level of casualness to what you're doing. You know what I mean? Like, it's that. So I think.

[Sports Analyst 1]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Sports Analyst 2]

So the. So the two times.

[Sports Analyst 1]

But he said it was almost. He. I. I wonder if he said he had his head down in the. Looking for the base. Almost as if maybe he was running faster than he realized.

[Sports Analyst 2]

I don't know.

[Sports Analyst 1]

All of a sudden, there was the base, and, oh, I should have slid.

[Sports Analyst 2]

All I know. Your point is a good point. I am very anti Yordon sliding vocally, so I have my own Reddit group for it. I've got a club anti Yordon sliding

[Sports Analyst 1]

tattoo on your left buttock.

[Sports Analyst 2]

Yep, yep, yep. If you want to check out my social media, it's at. Don't slide Yordon.

[Sports Analyst 1]

You put your sliding pants up over it.

[Sports Analyst 2]

Yeah, I do. The two times, most noteworthy, where he should have slid and chose not to. He sprained his ankle on home plate.

[Sports Analyst 1]

Yeah.

[Sports Analyst 2]

And he got thrown out last night or yesterday afternoon. So here was Joe Espada on that particular play after the game. No, I think I saw enough there. I think his foot was in the bag. And I don't know if he called him off. Call him out because the foot came off or not, but looked to me like he beat the play.

[Sports Analyst 1]

How frustrating is that? Just with the, you know, just with, you know, he had a chance to be the time run there with no out.

[Sports Analyst 2]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Very frustrating. But, you know, they. So, you know, they. They make the call in New York, and that's the ruling. And, you know, I disagree with it. The funny thing about that is you're done after the game was like, yeah, I think my foot was off the bat. Yeah. I don't think I made it.

[Sports Analyst 1]

Yeah, yeah.

[Sports Analyst 2]

Sorry, Joe. I didn't mean to throw you under the bus. All right, so the Astros off today. They're off to the west coast to play the San Diego Padres, and they're the Astros up game and a half in the division training camp yesterday for the Texans. Long one. It was a long little bit longer than usual and they're off today. The Texans also off today. No training camp practice. This was Henry Toa Toa. The offense has been a big talking point throughout training camp because we know that's the side of the football that needs to get better. This was Henry Toa Toa, inside linebacker for the Texans, saying what he's been noticing with the offense this year. Man, they moving fast.

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[Sports Analyst 2]

Line looks really good. CJ's making great decision and. And the running backs. Man, them running backs, is they good now?

[Sports Analyst 1]

Oh man, I don't know.

[Sports Analyst 2]

Whatever you've seen out there, don't believe it. Like those boys are good.

[Sports Analyst 1]

They.

[Sports Analyst 2]

They ball like they can move and when they get clicking, it's over. Like, no, I don't think nobody can stop them. They're that good and they're putting all the pieces together and they're a hell of an offense, I'm telling you. Hell of an offense. He's even more bullish than I am. Hell of an offense.

[Sports Analyst 1]

Yeah, you know what the. I mean I've had that thought before where I'm trying not to try not get to get too excited over non tackle football, but that is still a very, very good defense that practices really hard out there and some of the Plays that the Texans are making are plays that they didn't have a prayer of making last year during training camp. But Jaz, do I dare to start comparing them to other offenses just yet? I'm going to need to see. I'm going to need to see the first couple of preseason series.

[Sports Analyst 2]

I agree.

[Sports Analyst 1]

I do hope Sergeant pointed this out from Remember two years ago, the starting offensive line wasn't even together at any point in the preseason game. I think until the final. Like for a series on the final.

[Sports Analyst 2]

That was still when Tunsil was on the team. Yeah.

[Sports Analyst 1]

Yeah. No, no. And it's. Yeah. And it was. It was just a matter of like. There's a lot of uncertainty about that offense going into 2024. There were still some things I wanted to see and it felt like they were just kind of casually rolling into the season. We'll be just fine with these guys. Look, yeah, your risk of injury goes up, but your risk of sucking goes up too. If you don't have your offensive line out there for at least a few series altogether in the preseason games, that

[Sports Analyst 2]

was the offensive line. Unlike this camp, where it feels like other than Ariante or Street, they're shuffling everybody around even between, you know, Keelum Rutledge has played guard and center. You know, the, the competition at right tackle is a really good one with Braden Smith and Trent Brown right now. This is a better offensive line room overall, talent wise than that one two years ago. And yet that one two years ago felt like they had their ones all set. Like on July 26th or whatever when camp started. That was the year was Tunsil. Kenyan skinny, Kenyan green.

[Sports Analyst 1]

Yeah.

[Sports Analyst 2]

Coming back from the injury. And then it was Juice Scruggs at center, Shaq Mason and Titus Howard. That was it. Those are your ones. This is a very different camp, but I feel like it's a better room.

[Sports Analyst 1]

Yeah. No, the depth in the actual competition of guys that like last year you had backups competing to be starters and which means that your backup was going to be a guy that might be third string on a lot of teams where this year it's these are bonafide. There's going to be backups who are bonafide starters on other teams.

[Sports Analyst 2]

We'll talk more about this. We're up against it, so we'll talk more about this. In the seven o' clock hour. Stefan Diggs has found a home. He is a Washington commander one year up to $12 million.

[Sports Analyst 1]

Brandon Iuk comment on that?

[Sports Analyst 2]

Not that I've seen yet. That's who I want to see Brandon Iuk go after because I feel like Diggs might fire back at Brandon.

[Sports Analyst 1]

This is where maybe this is a wake up moment for Brandon Iuk where he realizes, wow, yeah, okay, Diggs is the guy.

[Sports Analyst 2]

Maybe.

[Sports Analyst 1]

I mean, Diggs has been more productive recently and you know, on the football field has not been a character risk at all in the last few. Couple places he's been. And yet he's got a, he's got a certain cachet to him that Brandon Ayuks his cachet is even worse.

[Sports Analyst 2]

And we'll get more to digs in the 7 o' clock hour. I just found it hilarious, the article in the Athletic that was reporting dig signing with the commanders and towards the very. It's not a long article, it's a report. But the very end gives like a paragraph or two on the whole lawsuit that he was kind of exonerated from because the witness was terrible, blah, blah, blah. And then there's a sentence at the very end says deke still has two outstanding pending civil lawsuits.

[Sports Analyst 1]

I mean, and they just kind of

[Sports Analyst 2]

left it at that.

[Sports Analyst 1]

You know, I saw Warren Sapp was telling a story about the things that Tony Dungy used to tell guys to watch out for. He had like five items and one of them was the, the women you know too well and the women you don't know well enough or something along those lines. And that's like Diggs. Diggs has a history of maybe associating with people that aren't. Aren't the best for him.

[Sports Analyst 2]

Yes, I would agree with that.

[Sports Analyst 1]

So even when he's not technically the victim or when he's not technically at fault, man, you put yourself in a lot of hairy situations.

[Sports Analyst 2]

Yeah, you're just, you're, you're walking drama, man. Just drama all the time. All right. Ringing endorsement from one of his teammates for CJ Stroud. And we haven't dug into the Mike Sando QB tears. There's some interesting non CJ angles to this. The. The tears. The ranking of the quarterbacks by executives and coaches around the league. We'll get into that and a whole lot more in the 7 o' clock hour. That is coming up next.

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