The game was decided in the third inning. Texas built a 6-0 lead through three frames and survived a late Toronto charge, taking a 6-5 victory at Rogers Centre on Thursday before 35,273 fans.
MacKenzie Gore was the story on the mound. The right-hander worked 7.0 innings, allowing 3 runs on 4 hits with 5 strikeouts and 1 walk on 98 pitches. He picked up his fifth win against six losses, carrying a 4.05 ERA. Joc Pederson set the tone in the first, homering to right 402 feet to give Texas the lead it would never relinquish. Then the third inning opened up: Langford's three-run homer to left center — 401 feet, with Lopez and Pederson scoring — pushed the advantage to 4-0, and Burger followed with a two-run shot to left, 378 feet, as Seager scored to make it 6-0.
Toronto answered in the fifth. Okamoto scored on a sacrifice fly by Schneider, then Lukes and Kirk scored on a double by Straw, cutting the deficit to 6-3. But the Rangers' bullpen held the margin through the eighth. In the ninth, Okamoto's two-run homer to center — 420 feet, with Clement scoring — brought Toronto within 6-5. Jacob Metz came on and retired the side, earning his 15th save of the season with a 1.89 ERA.
Kevin Gausman absorbed the loss, falling to 4-6. He allowed all 6 runs on 10 hits over 6.0 innings, striking out 4 and walking 2 on 99 pitches. His ERA stands at 4.45. Toronto's offense managed only 6 hits on the night and could not complete the comeback.
Texas moved to 38-42, while Toronto fell to 39-41, both teams now on two-game losing streaks. Pederson, who went 2-for-3 with 2 walks and a home run, is 2 doubles away from 200 career doubles.