CANADA (AP) — The Texas Rangers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 10-4 on Monday night in the first game of a four-game series that might determine who will win the American League’s wild-card spot. Jonah Heim hit his third grand slam of his career and Evan Carter blasted his first major league home run.
Texas (79-64) and Toronto (80-64) both finished the wild-card round within a half-game of each other. In the race for the second American League wild card, the Blue Jays started one game in front of Seattle.
Every game after this is crucial, according to Heim. “Each and every game important, regardless of who we are playing or where we are. We’ll tackle them one game at a time and exert every effort to prevail.
The Rangers have now won three straight games, their greatest run since an eight-game winning streak early in August. They won 95 games in 2016, therefore this was their highest number of victories since then. Since then, Texas hasn’t finished a season with a winning record.
Cavan Biggio of Toronto hit a solo home run, his ninth, and added two runs, but the Blue Jays’ three-game winning streak was short-lived.
Since Jordan Montgomery defeated the Angels on August 15, Dane Dunning (10-6) is the first Rangers starting pitcher to win. He allowed three runs and six hits in six or more innings.
“I’m aware of how talented our starting staff is. It is incredibly talented, according to Dunning. Just trying to get things moving once more.
Dunning had seven strikeouts against three walks.
Heim remarked, “He kept everyone off-balance. “He was mixing and matching all of his pitches.”
Ian Kennedy, Martn Pérez, and Chris Stratton each contributed one inning of relief work.
In the seventh inning against Génesis Cabrera’s left-handed pitching, Heim went 2 for 5 with five RBIs and blasted his second grand slam of the year. Heim hit his 16th home homer.
Bruce Bochy, the Rangers manager, stated, “We need this guy. He plays a huge role in our club. He was mostly in the middle of our success throughout the season, and he was tonight, when you consider it.
In the third inning, Carter hit a leadoff homer off Blue Jays right-hander Bassitt into the second deck in right center to level the score at 2.
“It was an unbelievable feeling,” Carter remarked. “Obviously, everyone fantasizes about such occasion. Hopefully there will be a lot more in the future.
In the bottom half of the fifth, Carter secured the lead by throwing out Kiermaier at home plate after Seager’s two-out RBI single gave the Rangers a 3-2 advantage. On George Springer’s single to left field, the quick Kiermaier was attempting to score from second base.
Carter’s day had been “big,” according to Bochy. He had a successful day.
After a replay review, the ruling made by plate umpire John Tumpane was upheld despite the Blue Jays’ protests.
In the sixth, Biggio began an unusual double play at third base. He fielded Marcus Semien’s grounder with runners at the corners, tagged Josh H. Smith before he could get back to third, and then fired to first to get Semien.
Bochy stated that Smith ought to have made it more challenging for Biggio to tag him out.
Bochy stated, “You don’t run back to the tag.” Continue homeward or enter a rundown. He simply had a brain cramp at the time.
Seager then hit the go-ahead single to break the tie.
“Corey picked us up there,” Bochy remarked.
In 5 1/3 innings, Bassitt (14-8) gave up five runs and nine hits. He had three walks and three strikeouts.
Bassitt admitted, “I was probably overthrowing a little bit too much.” “I wasn’t locating, and I wasn’t hitting my spots.”
When Bassitt was called for a disengagement infraction in the second, Texas designated hitter Mitch Garver scored the game’s first run. Before leaving the mound and attempting to pursue Garver back to third base, Bassitt stepped off the rubber twice. He was unsuccessful.
Garver received praise from Bochy for his alert baserunning.
Bochy remarked, “He’s not one of my bunnies, but he wrecked havoc out there.
READERS’ ROOM
Blue Jays: Brandon Belt made his first start at designated hitter since September 2 due to a sore back and illness. Belt left the game after two at-bats with two strikeouts due to lower back spasms. In the sixth, Belt was replaced by Spencer Horwitz. … RHP Jay Jackson was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo and RHP Erik Swanson (back) was recalled from the 15-day injured list.
EMPTY SENSE
The lowest home attendance for a Blue Jays game this season was 23,451.
10 SPOT
Texas has scored 10 or more runs 24 times this season, which is the most in the majors. In 2008, the Rangers broke their previous record by scoring at least 10 runs 25 times.
PATHWAY WALK
Texas took nine walks—a season high.
NEXT UP
On Tuesday, Toronto LHP Hyun Jin Ryu (3-2, 2.65 ERA) will face Rangers RHP Max Scherzer (12-8, 3.91).