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 Buehrle pitched a two-hitter, and the Toronto Blue Jays ended a season-worst, seven-game losing streak by beating the Houston Astros 4-0 on Thursday night.
"Today was one of those days when obviously I had a lot of stuff working for me," Buehrle said.
After Buehrle wrapped up a brisk 2:18 game with a 1-2-3 ninth, Blue Jays manager John Gibbons didn't get the chance to say much about it.
Buehrle interrupted Gibbons' news conference so he could speak to the media before leaving to attend a Tim McGraw concert.
"Grandparents are here to watch the kids, so let's go," Buehrle said.
The last-place Blue Jays had been 0-6 since the All-Star break, swept in consecutive series by Tampa Bay and the Los Angeles Dodgers -- two teams on hot streaks. Toronto had dropped 14 of 18 overall.
"It's been a while," Gibbons said of the wait between wins.
Things were easier for Toronto against the Astros, who have won just once since July 13 and have the worst record in baseball at 34-67. Houston lost for the 18th time in 22 games and was shut out for the 11th time.
"What we witnessed tonight was an experienced major league pitcher that executed a game plan," Astros manager Bo Porter said.
Maicer Izturis drove in two runs as the Blue Jays won at home for the first time since July 7.
Buehrle (6-7) struck out a season-high nine -- his highest total since he fanned a career-high 12 against Seattle in April 2005. He walked two in his first complete game of the season.
"He was just marvelous," teammate Adam Lind said. "He threw the heck out of the baseball."
Buehrle pitched his ninth career shutout, and first since throwing a perfect game against Tampa Bay in 2009.
"That's typical Buehrle," Gibbons said. "When he's on, when he's hitting his spots and he's got that good changeup. I thought he did a real good job of pitching some right-handers inside to keep them honest."
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The complete game was the 29th of Buehrle's career but just the second of the season for the Blue Jays. Knuckleballer R.A. Dickey had the other, going the distance at Tampa Bay on June 26.
In Buehrle's previous start, he matched a season-worst by giving up 10 hits against Tampa Bay. He held the Astros without a hit until Justin Maxwell singled with two outs in the fifth.
"He never really left much over the plate," Houston catcher Jason Castro said. "When he was missing, it was to the corners or underneath or above the strike zone."
Erik Bedard (3-8) lost his fifth straight start, allowing one run and three hits in five innings. He walked one and struck out six. Bedard had walked five or more in three of his previous four starts.
"He's been doing a great job of really attacking guys," Castro said. "He's got very good stuff, he's got a ton of movement on his pitches."
Jose Bautista drew a two-out walk in the fourth and scored on Edwin Encarnacion's double into the right-field corner. Encarnacion was thrown out trying to stretch his hit into a triple.
Lucas Harrell walked Bautista and Encarnacion to begin the seventh. Pinch-hitter Lind had an RBI double, and Izturis followed with a two-run single over the drawn-in infield.
Houston didn't put a runner in scoring position until the sixth, when leadoff man Brandon Barnes was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on Jonathan Villar's sacrifice. Buehrle responded by getting Jose Altuve and Jason Castro to ground out.
J.D. Martinez hit a one-out double in the seventh, but Brett Wallace struck out and Maxwell grounded out.
NOTES: Blue Jays RHP Brandon Morrow has been shut down for six weeks with a nerve problem in his forearm, effectively ending his season. ... Houston's 10-game, 11-day road trip also includes three games at Baltimore and three at Minnesota. ... The Canadian-born Bedard started in his home country for the first time since 2007. ... Astros OF Trevor Crowe (right shoulder) began a rehab assignment with Houston's Gulf Coast League team.
[Associated
Press; By IAN HARRISON]
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