Instant Reaction: Blue Jays’ comeback attempt falls short as Rangers take series opener
Joc Pederson opened the game with a bang in the top of the first inning. Pederson won an 11-pitch at-bat off Kevin Gausman by launching a 95.3 MPH fastball 402 feet down the right field line to give the Rangers an early lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
After Gausman rebounded with a shutout second inning, the Rangers’ bats came out firing in the top of the third. With one out, Nicky Lopez and Pederson worked back-to-back singles to bring up the fourth overall draft pick from the 2023 MLB Draft, Wyatt Langford. Langford smashed a 0-1 slider from Gausman 401 feet over the left center field wall for his eighth home run of the season, extending the Rangers’ lead to 3-0.
Rangers’ shortstop Corey Seager then worked a one-out walk, but Gausman rebounded by striking out Brandon Nimmo, bringing up Jake Burger to the plate with one runner on and two out. Burger, like Langford, tagged a Gausman slider, this time into the Blue Jays’ bullpen for his 14th home run of the season, giving the Rangers a 6-0 advantage.
With the game in danger of getting out of hand and the Blue Jays dealing with a bullpen that continues to be overworked, Gausman gutted through three more innings. The 35-year-old kept the Rangers off the board and gave the Blue Jays’ offence every opportunity to get back into the game. Gausman finished the night with a pitching line of 6.0 IP, 10 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, and now holds a 4-6 record, a 4.36 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP through 17 starts this season.
Myles Straw cashes in two and cuts the lead in half, it’s 6-3!
🎥: Sportsnet | #BlueJays50
Due to Gausman and Woods Richardson’s ability to keep the Rangers off the board, the Blue Jays pulled closer in the bottom of the ninth inning via a Kazuma Okamoto two-run home run off Rangers closer Jacob Latz. Okamoto is now batting .241 with 18 home runs and 51 RBIs and has found himself on a nice run as of late. In his past seven games, Okamoto is batting .360 with three home runs and nine RBIs as he continues to adjust to MLB pitching.
The Blue Jays (39-42) will turn to Patrick Corbin on Friday night as they look to snap their three-game losing streak. The Rangers (39-42) will counter with two-time All-Star Nathan Eovaldi. First pitch is set for 7:07 p.m. EST at Rogers Centre.