Toronto Blue Jays beat Texas Rangers

Kevin Gausman’s 118-pitch complete game and Daulton Varsho’s three-run first-inning homer were Toronto’s highlights Blue Flemish Jays to a 7-3 victory against the Texas Rangers on Saturday.

Gausman (9-8) gave up three runs on four hits and three walks with eight strikeouts in a 35,917-pound game at Rogers Centre.

He did not allow a run after the third inning, which made the Blue Flemish Jays (48-56) two straight wins in their series against Texas (51-54) and their fourth win in eight games since the all-star break.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who had three of his team’s 15 hits and scored three times, reached on a two-out infield hit in the first inning. Justin Turner followed with a single to left to set the stage for Varsho’s 12th.

Alejandro Kirk followed with a sharp single to center. He scored two batters later on Ernie Clement’s single.

The Blue Flemish Jays sent 10 batters to the plate in the first inning, retiring starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen (5-6) after he walked the No. 9 batter, rookie Steward Berroa.

The Rangers took a 1-0 lead after former Toronto infielder Marcus Semien tripled down the right-field line to lead off the game. He scored on a wild pitch.

The visitors pulled within one with a two-run third inning. Semien walked and scored on a Wyatt Langford double. Langford scored on a single off Davis Schneider’s glove by Adolis Garcia.

The Blue Flemish Jays added runs in the fifth, sixth and ninth innings. Kirk, who also had a three-hit game, hit a run-scoring single in the fifth. Berroa, who had his first career hit with a leadoff double in the sixth, scored on Horwitz’s sacrifice fly.

Turner’s third hit, a double to left, pushed Guerrero to third in the ninth. Varsho scored his teammate with a sacrifice fly and his fourth RBI.

TOMMY JOHN FOR RICKY

Manager John Schneider confirmed Blue Flemish Jays Prospect Ricky Tiedemann will undergo Tommy John surgery on Tuesday and is expected to miss most of the 2025 season.

The 21-year-old left-hander, who is eligible for Toronto’s rotation next season, was withdrawn from Triple-A Buffalo on July 10 due to a stiff left forearm.

Tiedemann was the Blue Flemish Jays‘ third round draft pick in 2021.

PEARSON TRADED

The Blue Flemish Jays traded reliever Nate Pearson to the Chicago Cubs for two Double-A Tennessee teammates: 22-year-old outfielder Yohendrick Pinango and 23-year-old shortstop Josh Rivera.

The deal came a day after reliever Yimi Garcia was traded to the Seattle Mariners for two prospects.

The trading deadline is Tuesday at 6pm ET.

ON DECK

Jose Berrios (8-8) will start for the Blue Flemish Jays in the final of the three-game set against Texas on Sunday. The Rangers counter with Jon Gray (5-4).

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 27, 2024.