After winning the opener of a key three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays, the Texas Rangers have strengthened their position in the playoff race.
The Rangers will look to build on their momentum when the teams resume their series on Saturday in Arlington, Texas.
Texas (77-77) drew 10 walks in a 7-1 victory over Toronto on Friday and moved into a first-place tie with the Houston Astros in the American League West. Jake Burger had two RBIs for the Rangers, who won for the fifth time in their last six games.
“We’re still right in the thick of it,” Texas second baseman Nicky Lopez said. “Everything is still in front of us. If we just win today and move on, I think that’s more of the mentality. It’s how do we come to the ballpark ready to win?”
In the race for the final AL wild-card berth, Toronto (76-78) fell one game behind the Rangers and two games back of the Chicago White Sox (78-76).
Myles Straw had two hits with an RBI on Friday for the Blue Jays, who committed three errors and lost for the third time in their last four games.
A bright spot for Toronto was the major league debut of right-handed reliever Jose Rodriguez, who recorded two quick outs in the sixth inning after entering with the bases loaded and one out.
“We know the stuff is there, and we know the delivery is funky, and he answered the call,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “I thought that was a tremendous first outing for him in a not ideal situation. I thought he responded really well.”
The pitching matchup for Saturday will feature a pair of right-handers as Toronto’s Jose Soriano (12-7, 3.56 ERA) opposes Texas’ Cal Quantrill (9-5, 2.90).
Soriano carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning Monday against the Detroit Tigers before allowing four runs in the seventh. He exited after giving up four runs over 6 1/3 innings in his team’s 6-5 loss.
“It was the third time I faced the same lineup, so that’s tough facing them three times or four times,” Soriano said. “They made a different approach. Credit to their hitters. They were able to score a couple runs.”
Soriano is 3-1 with a 4.27 ERA across eight starts for Toronto since being acquired from the Los Angeles Angels ahead of the trade deadline last month.
Corey Seager is 4-for-11 (.364) with a home run against Soriano, who is 2-3 with a 2.84 ERA in eight career games (six starts) vs. Texas. He allowed two runs over six innings as a member of the Angels in no-decision against the Rangers on July 7.
Texas will counter with Quantrill, who won his third straight start last Sunday. He allowed two runs over six innings in a 7-6 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday.
“He was outstanding,” Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said. “I mean, Cal was on the attack, gave up one run through six innings, whatever it was. And then after the fifth, he had back tightness, and it was pretty significant back tightness.”
Quantrill was cleared to make Saturday’s start after throwing off a mound on Thursday.
Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. is 1-for-7 (.143) against Quantrill, who is 2-0 with a 1.59 ERA in three career starts vs. Toronto. Quantrill threw four shutout innings against the Blue Jays on June 27.
–Field Level Media
