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The Texas Rangers came out slugging against the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday night at Rogers Centre in Toronto. But Toronto didn't sit idly by, putting up a two-run rally in the ninth inning. Texas, though, held on for a 6-5 win in this series opener.
Rangers starter MacKenzie Gore picked up the victory, going to 5-6 overall. Gore worked a pretty decent seven innings, giving up four hits, three earned runs, walked one, and struck out five.
Reliever Jakob Junis earned a hold for working a strong eighth inning. Closer Jacob Latz did pick up his 15th save this season, but oh boy, it wasn't totally clean. Latz allowed two hits, two earned runs, didn't walk a batter, struck out two, and gave up a home run.
The Rangers now find themselves in a three-way tie for second place per games behind in the American League West Division with the Houston Astros and Athletics.
The Astros and Athletics also won on Thursday, but the first-place Seattle Mariners lost on Thursday to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Texas, Houston, and the Athletics are all now 1.5 games behind the Mariners for the first-place spot. The Astros are .001 percentage points ahead of the Rangers and Athletics as of Thursday night's standings.
Seattle opens a three-game series at the Cleveland Guardians, while the Astros continue their series against the Detroit Tigers. The Rangers, of course, will continue to play against the Blue Jays.
The Athletics, after finishing a series against the San Francisco Giants, are headed down the West Coast to open a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels.
In the top of the first inning, Pederson hit his 12th homer this season, a solo blast over the right-field wall for an early 1-0 lead. Pederson's homer came off of Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman, who fell to 4-6 this season.
Then, in the top of the third inning, Nicky Lopez led off with a single with one out. Pederson singled to left and Lopez moved up to second base. Wyatt Langford got a pitch to hit and he didn't miss it. Langford took a Gausman pitch and sent it over the left-center field wall. Lopez and Pederson scored ahead of Langford, putting the Rangers up 4-0.
With two outs and still in the third, Jake Burger hit his 14th homer this season. Corey Seager, who earlier walked, scored ahead of Burger and Texas established a 6-0 advantage. The Rangers' offense, though, didn't provide any more run support.
The Blue Jays rallied for three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, slicing into the Rangers' lead at 6-3. Davis Schneider had an RBI sacrifice fly, and Myles Straw came up to smoke a two-run double.
But Toronto had some more offense in the tank. Latz came in and gave up a leadoff single to Ernie Clement. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. struck out for the first out.
Kazuma Okamoto, who has been impressive this season for Toronto, slugged his 18th homer. Clement scored ahead of Okamoto, and the Rangers were only up by one run at that point with a 6-5 score.
Latz got his act together, though, as Alejandro Kirk grounded out and Brandon Valenzuela was called out on strikes.
The Rangers and Blue Jays get back at it again on Friday night.
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Rangers starter MacKenzie Gore picked up the victory, going to 5-6 overall. Gore worked a pretty decent seven innings, giving up four hits, three earned runs, walked one, and struck out five.
Reliever Jakob Junis earned a hold for working a strong eighth inning. Closer Jacob Latz did pick up his 15th save this season, but oh boy, it wasn't totally clean. Latz allowed two hits, two earned runs, didn't walk a batter, struck out two, and gave up a home run.
Rangers in Three-Way Tie for Second Place
The Rangers now find themselves in a three-way tie for second place per games behind in the American League West Division with the Houston Astros and Athletics.
The Astros and Athletics also won on Thursday, but the first-place Seattle Mariners lost on Thursday to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Texas, Houston, and the Athletics are all now 1.5 games behind the Mariners for the first-place spot. The Astros are .001 percentage points ahead of the Rangers and Athletics as of Thursday night's standings.
Seattle opens a three-game series at the Cleveland Guardians, while the Astros continue their series against the Detroit Tigers. The Rangers, of course, will continue to play against the Blue Jays.
The Athletics, after finishing a series against the San Francisco Giants, are headed down the West Coast to open a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels.
In the top of the first inning, Pederson hit his 12th homer this season, a solo blast over the right-field wall for an early 1-0 lead. Pederson's homer came off of Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman, who fell to 4-6 this season.
Langford's Homer Extends Rangers' Lead
Then, in the top of the third inning, Nicky Lopez led off with a single with one out. Pederson singled to left and Lopez moved up to second base. Wyatt Langford got a pitch to hit and he didn't miss it. Langford took a Gausman pitch and sent it over the left-center field wall. Lopez and Pederson scored ahead of Langford, putting the Rangers up 4-0.
With two outs and still in the third, Jake Burger hit his 14th homer this season. Corey Seager, who earlier walked, scored ahead of Burger and Texas established a 6-0 advantage. The Rangers' offense, though, didn't provide any more run support.
The Blue Jays rallied for three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, slicing into the Rangers' lead at 6-3. Davis Schneider had an RBI sacrifice fly, and Myles Straw came up to smoke a two-run double.
But Toronto had some more offense in the tank. Latz came in and gave up a leadoff single to Ernie Clement. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. struck out for the first out.
Kazuma Okamoto, who has been impressive this season for Toronto, slugged his 18th homer. Clement scored ahead of Okamoto, and the Rangers were only up by one run at that point with a 6-5 score.
Latz got his act together, though, as Alejandro Kirk grounded out and Brandon Valenzuela was called out on strikes.
The Rangers and Blue Jays get back at it again on Friday night.
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