TORONTO (AP) – Pinch-runner Jarred Kelenic scored the go-ahead run by sprinting home from second base on a wild pitch in the ninth inning, leading the Texas Rangers to a 3-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday, completing a four-game sweep.
Josh Jung hit a two-out double off Louis Varland (3-3) in the ninth and Kelenic took over as a runner.
Varland’s first pitch to Corey Seager bounced before the plate and deflected off Alejandro Kirk’s glove. The catcher initially lost track of the ball, allowing Kelenic to round third and score the winning run.
Cole Winn (3-2) threw two innings for the win while Tyler Alexander closed it out for his fourth save in five opportunities.
Joc Pederson homered on the very first pitch of the game, and Elias Díaz added an RBI single as the Rangers secured their seventh win in ten games, bringing their record to.500 at 42-42.
Texas has now homered in an impressive 11 consecutive games.
The Rangers managed to score in the first inning of all four matchups against Toronto. They hold a 32-10 record this season when scoring first but drop to 10-32 when they fall behind.
Texas was up 2-0 through seven innings until Nathan Lukes tied it with a two-run homer off Winn in the eighth, marking his fourth homer of the season.
This marks Toronto’s third series sweep this year, and they are currently on a six-game losing streak overall.
Pederson hit his second leadoff home run of this series with Shane Bieber on mound for his second start back after recovering from elbow soreness.
Bieber had given up three straight homers during his last outing against Houston on Tuesday.
Rangers: They haven’t named a starter for Monday’s game at Cleveland. LHP Parker Messick (7-4, 2.67 ERA) is set to take on the Guardians.
Blue Jays: RHP Trey Yesavage (3-3, 3.56 ERA) is anticipated to start Monday at home against Mets LHP Sean Manaea (1-2, 4.87).
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