(Arlington) Martin Perez allowed one run in six innings, Adolis Garcia hit the long ball for the second straight game and the Texas Rangers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 4-1 on Sunday.
Posted at 7:31 p.m.
The Canadian club returned to Toronto for the next five games after an 8-2 streak on the road. In the space of four days, he will cross swords with another draft team, the Tampa Bay Rays. For their part, the Rangers ended a series of three losses.
“We feel good. It’s been a good trip,” Blue Jays interim manager John Schneider said. “I like where we are as a group. »
Perez (11-6) curbed his losing streak to two, which tied his longest streak of the season. He allowed six hits, struck out seven and conceded two walks. Against Perez, the Blue Jays had no hits with a runner in scoring position.
“I don’t think about numbers, I don’t think ‘win the game on your own,'” Perez admitted. I only think of “winning the game as a team player”. »
Garcia sent the ball over the fence into left field in the second inning, his 24e route of the season. He pulled off his feat against Yusei Kikuchi, the second of five relievers for the Queen City roster.
Leody Taveras hit a solo homer for the Rangers in the eighth inning. As for Jose Leclerc, he gave nothing in the ninth and got the save.
Rangers took a 1-0 lead in the first through a Nathaniel Lowe double. They did so at the expense of Trevor Richards (3-2), the Blue Jays reliever who started the game.
Teoscar Hernandez, who returned from paternity leave, hit two hits on three occasions. He hit a single that allowed Bo Bichette to cross home plate.
David Phelps retired all four batters he faced. He was the first of three Blue Jays relievers not to concede runs. The American is excited to take part in home games against the Baltimore Rays and Orioles.
“We spent the entire season in a position to make the playoffs. We know what we can do, Phelps said. If we can keep winning series, we’re going to be in good shape. »
A defining series against the Rays
The series between the Jays and the Rays will begin on Monday. At the Rays, left-handed reliever Brooks Raley will not be there, not being vaccinated against COVID-19. He was absent for the same reason from June 30 to July 3. Raley is 1-1 and a 2.03 GAA with six saves.
Toronto and Tampa Bay are easily in the trio of clubs that can go to the playoffs other than by a section title. Both teams have slim chances of catching the New York Yankees, the leaders in the East Division of the American.