Guerrero, Varsho help Blue Jays beat Rangers
TORONTO — Daulton Varsho and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit home runs to help the Toronto Blue Jays win 7-3 and sweep the defending World Series champion Texas Rangers on Sunday.
Varsho’s two-run hit, his 13th, landed in the Rangers’ bullpen as part of a three-run first inning, while Guerrero threw his team-best 19th to right field as part of a three-run third inning.
The Blue Jays (49-56) have won five of nine home games since the All-Star break. The Rangers (51-55) have lost three straight after coming into town with a five-game winning streak.
Toronto right-hander Jose Berrios (9-8) allowed one run on six hits with no walks and five strikeouts in seven innings.
Related Videos
Texas starting pitcher Jon Gray aggravated a right groin injury in first-inning warmups. He was replaced by Jonathan Hernandez (3-1) before leadoff hitter Spencer Horwitz came to bat.
Latest news from Canada and around the world
sent to your email address, as it happens.
Get the latest national news
For news that impacts Canada and the world, sign up to receive breaking news alerts directly when it happens.
The Rangers’ bullpen was already stretched thin after Saturday starter Michael Lorenzen failed to finish the first inning.
Lorenzen eventually made an appearance to start the fifth and worked the final four innings.
Before Varsho’s two-run home run with Ernie Clement aboard, Guerrero scored the first run with a sacrifice fly to left field.
Guerrero’s third-inning home run came with one out. Addison Barger then drove in Justin Turner and Varsho with a double to right-center field.
Varsho opened Saturday’s game with a three-run hit.
After Nathaniel Lowe’s single off Berrios gave the Rangers an opener in the sixth, Leo Jimenez’s sacrifice fly allowed Alejandro Kirk to score in the bottom half of the inning.
Genesis Cabrera replaced Berrios to start the eighth and quickly allowed a two-run home run to Josh Smith.
Barger and Turner led the Blue Jays’ attack with two hits each in front of 40,092 fans at Rogers Centre.
Receiver’s call
With catcher Danny Jansen being traded to the Boston Red Sox on Saturday, the Blue Jays recalled Brian Serven from Triple-A Buffalo. Serven, 29, played five games with the Blue Jays earlier this season.
ON THE BRIDGE
The Blue Jays open a four-game series with a doubleheader in Baltimore against the Orioles on Monday.
Yusei Kikuchi, whose three-year contract expires at the end of the year, is the player most likely to be traded before Tuesday’s 6 p.m. trade deadline.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 28, 2024.
© 2024 The Canadian Press
