Blue Jays 2-run Homer Proves Enough in Win Over Texas Rangers

The Toronto Blue Jays' two-run home run was enough to beat the Texas Rangers.

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

The Texas Rangers were hitless with runners in scoring position and lost the series opener to the Toronto Blue Jays, 2-1, Friday at Globe Life Field.

The Rangers (42-27) remain atop the American League West but continue to slump. They’ve lost seven of their past nine games and are.500 in June (7-7). Their 42-27 record matches the club's 2012 second-best start.

But the Rangers have scored three or fewer runs in six of their past nine games. They are 0-6 in those games.

The Rangers had plenty of chances to score Friday, but stranded six runners and went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position. Blue Jays (39-32) pitching limited the Rangers to six hits. Texas' lone run came on a third-inning solo homer by Leody Taveras.

The Rangers held the Blue Jays to three hits between four pitchers. But Toronto made the most of them.

Martín Pérez (6-3) bounced back from his loss to the Rays on Sunday, in which he allowed seven earned runs on 10 hits. He held Toronto to three hits in six innings, including Danny Jansen’s two-run homer in the fifth, which gave the Blue Jays the lead. It's the 12th homer Pérez has allowed. He only allowed 11 in 2022.

Joe Barlow, Grant Anderson, and José Leclerc each threw perfect innings of relief.

Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman (6-3) was just as effective, working around four hits and two walks in six innings. He struck out four and only allowed the Taveras homer.

Jordan Romano recorded the final four outs to collect his 20th save for Toronto. 

The Rangers and the Blue Jays face each other in Game 2 at 3:05 p.m. Saturday Right-hander Dane Dunning (5-1, 2.76) starts for the Rangers. The Blue Jays had not yet announced their Saturday starter.

The 1:35 p.m. Sunday finale is expected to feature Rangers right-hander Jon Gray (6-2, 2.32) against Blue Jays right-hander Chris Bassitt (7-5, 4.02).

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