Inside The Rangers

Grand Opening: Texas Rangers Blow Out Blue Jays in Crucial Series Opener

The Texas Rangers take Game 1 in a crucial wild-card race series against Toronto Blue Jays.

Stefan Stevenson

Grand Opening: Texas Rangers Blow Out Blue Jays in Crucial Series Opener
Grand Opening: Texas Rangers Blow Out Blue Jays in Crucial Series Opener /
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The Texas Rangers drew first blood in a crucial four-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Rangers blew it open with a five-run seventh to win 10-4 Monday at Rogers Centre to pull within a half-game of the Blue Jays in the Wild Card race. Texas moved ahead of the Seattle Mariners, who lost the Los Angeles Angels, for the third of three Wild Card spots.

The Rangers gained a game on the American League West-leading Houston Astros, who lost to the Oakland Athletics. Texas is two games back of its instate rivals.

Texas (79-64) won its third consecutive game, its longest win streak since winning eight straight games from Aug. 1-8. It's the Rangers first series-opening win since Aug. 28 against the New York Mets. Their 79 wins are the most in a season since they led the AL with 95 wins in 2016.

"It's a great start to a road trip," Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. "Just good at-bats throughout the order. A lot of good things by the guys offensively."

The Rangers scored five runs in the seventh, including Jonah Heim's grand slam to build a seven-run lead against the Blue Jays (80-63).

Evan Carter tied it at 2-2 with a solo shot in the third. It's Carter's first career homer since being called up from Triple-A Round Rock on Friday.

Carter singled and scored on Corey Seager's single in the fifth to give Texas a 3-2 lead.

In the bottom of the inning, Carter fielded a single in left field and threw out the potential game-tying run at home. Catcher Jonah Heim made a quick tag on Carter's high throw to get Kevin Kiermaier. The Blue Jays challenged the call but it was upheld.

Robbie Grossman scored on a wild pitch and Jonah Heim had an RBI double down the right-field line to push Texas' lead to 5-2.

Rangers 10, Blue Jays 4

Here are the key moments from Monday's game:

Seager Sets RBI Mark

Corey Seager's go-ahead RBI in the third was his 88th this season, a single-season high. His previous best was 87 RBI with the Dodgers in 2019.

Heim's Time

Jonah Heim, after collecting five RBIs Monday, has a career-high 82 this season. It's the most by a Rangers catcher since Iván Rodríguez had 83 RBI in 2000. Heim's grand slam in the seventh is his second this season and the third of his career.

Dane Not Done

Dane Dunning made his 22nd start and first since Aug. 30. He allowed three runs on six hits and three walks over six innings. He struck out seven and left leading 5-3 before Texas scored five runs in the seventh. It's Dunning's longest outing since going seven innings against the Giants on Aug. 13.

Dunning earned the win to improve to 10-6. He's the first Rangers starter to earn a win since Aug. 15, a franchise record span of 22 games.

Up Next

Rangers right-hander Max Scherzer (12-6, 3.91) faces Blue Jays lefty Hyun Jin Ryu (3-2, 2.65) in Game 2 at 6:07 p.m. Tuesday.

You can follow Stefan Stevenson on Twitter @StefanVersusTex.

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Stefan Stevenson
STEFAN STEVENSON

Stefan Stevenson worked as a journalist and editor at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram for 25 years, covering sports, concerts, and general news. His beats have included the Dallas Cowboys, the Texas Rangers, and Texas Christian University football.

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