Rangers Lose To Blue Jays
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ARLINGTON, Texas — The Toronto Blue Jays are loving the vibe in Texas lately.
After sweeping the Rangers in four games in Texas last season, Toronto found a way to win another one, this time grabbing a 4-2 victory on Saturday at Globe Life Park.
That sets up Toronto’s chance to sweep the Rangers (20-23) for the second straight season in Sunday’s series finale.
The Blue Jays (23-21) won the second game of this series with timely hitting and a solid bullpen performance.
Toronto shortstop Jose Reyes doubled with two out in the eighth to drive in left fielder Kevin Pillar for the go-ahead run. Then catcher Dioner Navarro added an insurance run with a sacrifice fly that scored first baseman Edwin Encarnacion in the ninth.
Blue Jays relief pitchers Steve Delabar and Casey Janssen made it stand up as they retired the last seven Rangers in order.
Toronto right fielder Jose Bautista smashed a home run over the
left-field wall, a line drive that traveled an estimated 387 feet, with two outs in the first inning. Bautista’s 11th home run of the season gave the Blue Jays a 1-0 lead.
But Texas starter Robbie Ross recovered from a rocky start without too much damage. Bautista’s first-inning shot was the third ball the Blue Jays hit hard off Ross, though the Rangers made plays on the first two. Ross pitched out of a bases-loaded, two-out jam in the second, then settled down.
Ross worked into the fifth inning, leaving with one out and Reyes on second. After Bautista’s home run, Ross retired 11 of 17 batters and worked around two hits and four walks.
Texas tied it in the third when center fielder Leonys Martin walked and second baseman Luis Sardinas and Michael Choice each singled behind him. Choice’s single to left scored Martin from second to make it 1-1.
Center fielder Anthony Gose gave the Blue Jays the lead in the top of the seventh when he led off with a double to left. Gose stole third, sliding his hand onto the bag, under the tag of third baseman Adrian Beltre. The Rangers challenged the call, but it was upheld. Gose scored when designated hitter Melky Cabrera hit a chopper to Beltre with one out and Beltre’s only play was to get Cabrera at first.
Texas answered with a run in the bottom of the seventh as second baseman Luis Sardinas singled to left to score catcher Robinson Chirinos from second with two out.
