TORONTO -- Back to .500 once more, the Blue Jays finally have another opportunity to get their heads back above water.\n\nThis team hasn’t had a winning record since April 3, but with most of their injury woes behind them and some momentum coming out of Monday’s 4-2 win over the Astros at Rogers Centre, why not tomorrow?
This is what mattered most from the win, which opened a 10-game homestand:\n\n**1\\. Okamoto’s All-Star campaign**\n\nWhere would the Blue Jays be without
The Japanese star launched his 17th home run of the season Monday, putting him on pace for 35-plus in his rookie year. That falls right in line with his numbers in NPB with the Yomiuri Giants, and it’s already established Okamoto as a fan favorite in Canada, which showed up in the most recent All-Star Game voting update for AL third basemen.\n\n**Vote count:** \n**1\\. Junior Caminero, Rays: 1,310,879** \n**2\\. Kazuma Okamoto, Blue Jays: 1,282,884**\n\nLater in the game, it was Okamoto’s double that moved Daulton Varsho to third, setting him up to score the go-ahead run on
**2\\. Straw comes through in a big spot**\n\nA sacrifice fly won’t lead tomorrow morning’s highlight reel, but that doesn’t matter. Straw had one of his best at-bats of the season to drive in the go-ahead run Monday, doing exactly what was needed of him.\n\nPinch-hitting for Jesús Sánchez with runners on second and third and one out, Straw was looking at an Astros infield playing in on the grass. This was a very simple situation that required a very simple play: Hit the ball in the air.\n\nStraw worked a 2-0 count and did exactly that, pulling a fly ball out to Yordan Alvarez in left field. This wasn’t flashy, but it’s the *exact* play the Blue Jays need more of. Sometimes it’s a swing like this from a role player -- not the big swing from the star player -- that really gets a lineup going.\n\n“He didn’t wait around after getting 2-0,” said manager John Schneider. “That’s just a guy who’s quietly been so good for us. He just knows his spots. He was ready for it.”
**3\\. The full Cease experience**\n\nThis one featured the full spectrum of