Toronto erased a two-run deficit with a two-run home run in the eighth, only to watch the lead slip away one inning later. Jarred Kelenic scored on a Louie Varland wild pitch in the ninth to give Texas the go-ahead run, and the Rangers held on for a 3-2 win over the Blue Jays before 40,898 at Rogers Centre.
Kumar Rocker set the tone for Texas. The right-hander worked 6.0 scoreless innings, allowing 4 hits, walking 1, and striking out 5 on 92 pitches. It was the kind of start that should win games, and it nearly did on its own. Cole Winn followed with 2.0 innings, allowing 2 runs, before Tyler Alexander closed it out with a perfect ninth — 1.0 inning, 1 strikeout — to earn his fourth save of the season, carrying a 2.62 ERA.
Joc Pederson opened the scoring in the first, homering to right 388 feet to put Texas ahead 1-0. Brandon Nimmo scored in the sixth when Díaz singled to center, extending the Rangers' lead to 2-0. Toronto answered in the eighth: Nathan Lukes homered to right 404 feet, with George Springer scoring on the play, to tie the game at 2-2. Then, in the ninth, Kelenic scored on a Varland wild pitch to restore the Texas lead for good.
Shane Bieber absorbed the early damage for Toronto, allowing 2 runs on 5 hits over 5.1 innings, walking 4 and striking out 4 on 92 pitches. Varland, who entered with a 1.20 ERA, took the loss — his third of the season — after surrendering the go-ahead run on the wild pitch. He finishes 3-3 on the year.
In a notable moment, Bieber reached 1,000 career strikeouts in this game. Pederson, meanwhile, is 2 doubles away from 200 for his career. Texas won for the second straight game and improved to 40-42. Toronto dropped its fourth consecutive game and fell to 39-43.