Pinch runner Jarred Kelenic scored the go-ahead run from second base on a wild pitch in the ninth inning Sunday afternoon and the visiting Texas Rangers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 3-2.
The Rangers swept the four-game series from the Blue Jays, who have lost six in a row.
Josh Jung doubled to right center with two out in the ninth against Louis Varland (3-3). Kelenic ran for Jung and scampered home all the way from second on a wild pitch that catcher Alejandro Kirk had trouble locating when it skipped away.
Tyler Alexander pitched a perfect ninth to earn his fourth save. Right fielder Brandon Nimmo ended the game by crashing into the wall to catch Kirk’s drive.
Joc Pederson led off the game with a solo home run for the Rangers.
Nathan Lukes tied the game for Toronto with a two-run homer in the eighth against Cole Winn (3-2).
Toronto has allowed a first-inning run in seven straight games after Pederson homered on the first pitch of the game, a fastball from Shane Bieber. The Rangers left the bases loaded in the inning after a single and two walks.
Bieber caught Jung looking at a third strike with one out in the fifth for career strikeout No. 1,000.
Texas starter Kumar Rocker escaped a jam created by poor defense in the fifth inning by striking out Lukes. Andres Gimenez singled with two out and George Springer reached first on shortstop Corey Seager’s throwing error. The runners moved to second and third on catcher Elias Diaz’s errant pickoff throw to second.
Bieber walked Nimmo to lead off the sixth. After Ezequiel Duran singled with one out, Adam Macko replaced Bieber. Pinch hitter Justin Foscue walked to load the bases and Nicky Lopez ran for him. Diaz flared an RBI single to center.
Bieber allowed two runs, five hits and four walks with four strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.
Rocker pitched six scoreless innings, allowing four hits and one walk with five strikeouts.
Springer singled with one out in the eighth and Lukes homered to right on Winn’s 0-1 slider.
Texas put Wyatt Langford on the injured list Sunday with a strained hamstring and activated Evan Carter from the IL. Carter went 0-for-2 with a strikeout.
–Field Level Media
