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07/26 22:38 CDT Ernie Clement singles in 9th to lift the Blue Jays past the
Rangers, 6-5
Ernie Clement singles in 9th to lift the Blue Jays past the Rangers, 6-5
By IAN HARRISON
Associated Press
TORONTO (AP) --- Ernie Clement singled in the ninth inning to give the Toronto
Blue Jays a 6-5 victory over Texas on Friday night, ending the defending
champion Rangers' winning streak at five.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. reached base four times as the Blue Jays snapped a
six-game losing streak against the Rangers.
Justin Turner hit a one-out single off Josh Sborz (2-1) in the ninth and was
replaced by Steward Berroa, who stole second.
Sborz exited after walking Guerrero, with Kirby Yates coming on to strike out
Danny Jansen for the second out. Spencer Horwitz was intentionally walked to
load the bases for Clement, who won it with a first-pitch single to left.
"I knew he was going to try to throw a strike so I was on go from pitch one,"
Clement said. "I got a pitch up in the zone and put a good swing on it."
It was Clement's first winning hit in the major leagues and Toronto's third
game-ending hit this season.
"Unfortunately I didn't make a good pitch and we lost the game because of it,"
Yates said. "You want it somewhere where he can't hit it, preferably down. It
wasn't down, it was up."
Yates hadn't lost since June 18 against the Mets.
"Kirby has done a great job," Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. "That's always
a tough spot when you come in first and second, one out."
Chad Green (3-2) worked 1 1/3 innings for the victory.
Adolis Garca homered and drove in three runs for Texas.
Garca gave the Rangers a 5-4 lead in the fifth inning with a home run that
bounced off the top of the right field wall and hit the foul screen. The homer
was his 18th.
Toronto tied it against Jonathan Hernndez in the seventh when Jansen hit a
bases-loaded sacrifice fly. Jacob Latz came on to face Horwitz and kept it tied
when Horwitz lined out and Turner was doubled off second base.
Garca opened the scoring with a two-out RBI single off Yusei Kikuchi in the
first, driving in Marcus Semien.
The Rangers thought they'd turned a double play to end the first, but Toronto
challenged and the replay showed shortstop Corey Seager hadn't touched second
base.
Horwitz and Clement made the extra chance count with doubles on consecutive
pitches from left-hander Andrew Heaney. Horwitz drove in two and scored on
Clement's hit.
Blue Jays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier made a sensational diving catch to
retire Wyatt Langford with two runners on in the third.
"He doesn't catch that ball, we're looking at a bigger inning," Bochy said.
Two batters later, Jonah Heim tied it at 3 with a two-run single.
Making what could be his final home start ahead of a potential trade to a
contender, Kikuchi allowed five runs and eight hits in 4 2/3 innings, extending
his run of winless starts to eight. He walked two and struck out five.
Many in the crowd of 35,065 rose for a standing ovation when Kikuchi was
replaced by Gnesis Cabrera.
"I gave up five runs today and the fans still gave me a standing ovation,"
Kikuchi said through a translator. "It was a pretty cool moment."
Heaney allowed four runs and seven hits in five innings.
PACK YOUR BAGS
Toronto traded RHP Yimi Garca to Seattle for two minor leaguers, OF Jonatan
Clase and C Jacob Sharp. The speedy Clase was assigned to Triple-A Buffalo.
Sharp will go to Class-A Vancouver.
Garca, who becomes a free agent after the World Series, said he'd been
expecting a move away from struggling Toronto.
"Everything is packed already," he said. "I was ready for it. We packed
everything."
ROSTER MOVES
Toronto recalled RHPs Zach Pop and Yerry Rodrguez from Triple-A Buffalo, and
optioned RHP Ryan Burr to Triple-A.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rangers: OF Evan Carter (back) is shutting down baseball activity until he
consults with a specialist, Bochy said. ... 3B Josh Jung (right wrist) went 1
for 3 with a single in the first game of an injury rehab assignment at Double-A
Frisco.
UP NEXT
Blue Jays RHP Kevin Gausman (8-8, 4.55 ERA) was scheduled to start Saturday
against RHP Michael Lorenzen (5-5, 3.53).
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
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