Blue Jays blow lead in 11-7 loss to Rangers
Corey Seager and Ezequiel Duran had four hits each and the Texas Rangers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 11-7 on Sunday.
Seager drove in three points and Duran scored three as Texas cleared a 6-0 deficit en route to victory in the rubber game of the weekend set. Leody Taveras added three hits and three RBIs, including a tiebreaking single in the fifth inning and a two-run homer in the seventh.
Duran and Taveras served as the Nos. 8 and 9 batters in a lineup that ended with 15 hits in the team’s biggest comeback win of the season.
“That’s one of our better wins, I’ll say, since opening day,” said first-year Rangers manager Bruce Bochy, referring to a five-run rally in an 11-7 victory against Philadelphia on March 30. work they did.”
Whit Merrifield and Bo Bichette each had two RBIs for Toronto in its sixth loss in nine games. George Springer had two hits and scored two runs.
Blue Jays right-hander Chris Bassitt gave up five runs, three earned runs and seven hits in 3 2/3 innings.
It was the Jays’ biggest lead since July 2019, when they led Tampa Bay 8-1 and lost 10-9.
“They did a lot of damage at the bottom of the order,” said Jays manager John Schneider. “You can’t let good offenses roll like that.”
Four Texas relievers combined for 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball after Jon Gray struggled. John King (1-0) threw 3 1/3 hitless innings for the AL West leaders victory.
Merrifield hit a two-run single and scored on Bichette’s two-run double in the second to give Toronto a 6-0 lead.
But Texas scored three runs in the fourth on Seager’s two-run double and an RBI single by Adolis Garcia. The Rangers then went on to stay in the fifth with three more.
Jonah Heim tied the score 6-6 with his ninth homer. Taveras singled to Mitch Garver and Marcus Semien’s sacrifice fly gave the Rangers an 8-6 lead.
Taveras’ two-run shot in the eighth against Adam Cimber was his sixth homer this month and No. 8 of the season.
“I just focus on doing my best every day,” Taveras said. “I try to learn something new every day.”
Texas scored in double digits for the 17th time in the major league. It averages a majors-best 6.11 runs per game.
Nate Pearson (4-1) got the loss by recording two outs and giving up three runs and three hits.
FOR STARTERS
It was a rough day for Gray and Bassitt.
Gray lasted 2 1/3 innings in his first appearance since June 7 after his previous turn in the rotation was skipped due to a blister. He was charged with six runs and six hits.
Gray had allowed only four earned runs in his previous 43 innings over six starts.
Bassitt struckout two batters and walked three. He was tagged for eight runs and 11 hits in three innings in an 11-6 loss at Baltimore on Tuesday.
WELCOME TO THE SHOW
Blue Jays designated hitter Spencer Horwitz had a single, two walks and an RBI in his major league-debut. Recalled from triple-A Buffalo on Friday, the 2019 draftee singled in his first at bat.
THE GROW: ”THE HARDEST PART IS BEHIND ME”
In his first comments to the media since undergoing reconstructive elbow surgery, Rangers pitcher Jacob deGrom said everything went well and he feels good.
“Now it’s over,” said deGrom, who turns 35 on Monday. “I’m looking forward to doing all the rehab stuff to get out again.”
DeGrom, who underwent elbow surgery for the first time in 2010 while rookieball with the New York Mets, said his goal is to return to the mound in August 2024.
SNEAKERS ROOM
Blue Jays: C Alejandro Kirk left in the second inning with a left hand laceration and contusion after being hit by a pitch.
NEXT ONE
Blue Jays: The three-city road trip ends in Miami, where RHP Jose Berrios (7-4, 3.28 ERA) goes for his sixth straight win in Monday’s series opener.
Rangers: LHP Andrew Heaney (4-4, 4.05 ERA), winless in his last three starts, opens a three-game road series against the Chicago White Sox on Monday.
