Bautista blast keeps Blue Jays rolling, Rangers reeling
The Sports Xchange
May 27, 2017
TORONTO -- Jose Bautista hit a go-ahead three-run homer, Marco Estrada struck out eight in six innings and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Texas Rangers 3-1 on Saturday afternoon.
It was the fifth straight win for the Blue Jays (23-26) and the second victory in succession over the Rangers (24-26), who have lost five in a row.
Shin-soo Choo homered for Texas.
Devon Travis singled for the Blue Jays to extend his hitting streak to 11 games.
Estrada (4-2) allowed four hits, one walk and one run in winning his third decision in a row. Roberto Osuna pitched a perfect ninth to earn his ninth save.
Texas starter Yu Darvish (5-3) allowed five hits, three walks and three runs in six innings. He struck out four and hit two batters in losing for the first time since April 18, a span of six starts.
Choo hit his fifth homer on Estrada's first pitch of the game. It was Choo's first homer leading off a game this season and the 21st of his career.
The Blue Jays took a 3-1 lead on Bautista's ninth homer, a three-run blast with two out in the fifth.
Luke Maile walked with one out. Rangers center fielder Jared Hoying hit the wall hard in left-center field catching a drive by Kevin Pillar for the second out. Hoying was down on the warning track for several minutes, but got to his feet and remained in the game.
Travis singled and Bautista homered to left on the first to pitch to put the Blue Jays ahead.
Toronto had a chance to make it a bigger inning, loading the bases on two walks and a double by Justin Smoak before Darvish ended the inning by striking out Ezequiel Carrera.
Aaron Loup replaced Estrada in the seventh. After allowing a one-out bloop single to Joey Gallo, he was replaced by Ryan Tepera to face pinch-hitter Mike Napoli, who hit into a spectacular double play started by a diving stop in the hole by shortstop Ryan Goins.
Sam Dyson pitched a perfect seventh for Texas.
Toronto's Joe Smith took over in the top of the eighth and pitched around a two-out double by Elvis Andrus.
Carrera bunted for a single with one out in the bottom of the eighth and Dyson walked Goins. Alex Claudio replaced Dyson and pinch-hitter Darwin Barney hit an infield single to second, loading the bases.
Tony Barnette replaced Claudio and struck out Pillar and Travis to end the inning.
NOTES: RHP Dillon Gee joined the Rangers from Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday, replacing RHP A.J. Griffin (strained left intercostal), who was put on the 10-day disabled list after leaving his start Friday after 1 1/3 innings. ... Texas SS Elvis Andrus stole two bases Friday to reach 250 career stolen bases, the first player in Rangers history to reach that milestone. ... Toronto 3B Josh Donaldson and SS Troy Tulowitzki did not start Saturday after both came off the disabled list to play for the first time since mid-April on Friday. C Russell Martin made his fourth start of the season at third base. ... Toronto RHP Joe Biagini (1-2, 3.75 ERA) will oppose Texas RHP Andrew Cashner (1-4, 3.18) in the series finale Sunday.
May 27, 2017
TORONTO -- Jose Bautista hit a go-ahead three-run homer, Marco Estrada struck out eight in six innings and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Texas Rangers 3-1 on Saturday afternoon.
It was the fifth straight win for the Blue Jays (23-26) and the second victory in succession over the Rangers (24-26), who have lost five in a row.
Shin-soo Choo homered for Texas.
Devon Travis singled for the Blue Jays to extend his hitting streak to 11 games.
Estrada (4-2) allowed four hits, one walk and one run in winning his third decision in a row. Roberto Osuna pitched a perfect ninth to earn his ninth save.
Texas starter Yu Darvish (5-3) allowed five hits, three walks and three runs in six innings. He struck out four and hit two batters in losing for the first time since April 18, a span of six starts.
Choo hit his fifth homer on Estrada's first pitch of the game. It was Choo's first homer leading off a game this season and the 21st of his career.
The Blue Jays took a 3-1 lead on Bautista's ninth homer, a three-run blast with two out in the fifth.
Luke Maile walked with one out. Rangers center fielder Jared Hoying hit the wall hard in left-center field catching a drive by Kevin Pillar for the second out. Hoying was down on the warning track for several minutes, but got to his feet and remained in the game.
Travis singled and Bautista homered to left on the first to pitch to put the Blue Jays ahead.
Toronto had a chance to make it a bigger inning, loading the bases on two walks and a double by Justin Smoak before Darvish ended the inning by striking out Ezequiel Carrera.
Aaron Loup replaced Estrada in the seventh. After allowing a one-out bloop single to Joey Gallo, he was replaced by Ryan Tepera to face pinch-hitter Mike Napoli, who hit into a spectacular double play started by a diving stop in the hole by shortstop Ryan Goins.
Sam Dyson pitched a perfect seventh for Texas.
Toronto's Joe Smith took over in the top of the eighth and pitched around a two-out double by Elvis Andrus.
Carrera bunted for a single with one out in the bottom of the eighth and Dyson walked Goins. Alex Claudio replaced Dyson and pinch-hitter Darwin Barney hit an infield single to second, loading the bases.
Tony Barnette replaced Claudio and struck out Pillar and Travis to end the inning.
NOTES: RHP Dillon Gee joined the Rangers from Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday, replacing RHP A.J. Griffin (strained left intercostal), who was put on the 10-day disabled list after leaving his start Friday after 1 1/3 innings. ... Texas SS Elvis Andrus stole two bases Friday to reach 250 career stolen bases, the first player in Rangers history to reach that milestone. ... Toronto 3B Josh Donaldson and SS Troy Tulowitzki did not start Saturday after both came off the disabled list to play for the first time since mid-April on Friday. C Russell Martin made his fourth start of the season at third base. ... Toronto RHP Joe Biagini (1-2, 3.75 ERA) will oppose Texas RHP Andrew Cashner (1-4, 3.18) in the series finale Sunday.
