Two 2 run home runs by Ian Kinsler and Nelson Cruz lead the way on offense as the Texas Rangers improve their record to 6-7.
The Toronto Blue Jays Roy Halladay had some of his best stuff tonight striking out nine and walking none in 8 innings; but it didn't matter as Ranger batters hit 4 doubles and 2 home runs off the two time 20 game winner. It was Halladay's first loss of the season as he dropped to 3-1 on the year.
The Rangers got off to a quick start in the top of the second inning after a leadoff double by Marlon Byrd followed by a two run blast from Nelson Cruz made it 2-0. It was Cruz 6th home run of the year, trying him for 2nd in MLB. Brandon Mccarthy, after a relatively easy first 2 innings, had a shaky start to the bottom of the third. Toronto Blue Jays left fielder Travis Snider led off with a double then after a walk to Scutaro and a lineout to right field from Aaron Hill, Alex Rios doubled home Snider and then the next at bat Vernon Wells hit a sac fly that tied the game at 2-2. The Rangers responded the very next inning after a leadoff double from Hank Blalock, Chris David singled him home to go up 3-2. This was a back-and-forth game to the end as the Rangers couldn't seem to shake the Blue Jays who came into the game 10-4 on the season, leading the American League East. In the bottom of the 5th, the Blue Jays struck again with a home run from Aaron Hill, tying the game at 3-3. Texas retaliated in the top of the 7th with a deep ball of their own from Ian Kinsler, his 5th of the year. It was a two run blast after a Jarrod Saltalamacchia double, this put the Ranger's in the lead for good at 5-3. This was not without a scare though, as the bullpen almost let one go again. After a strong 6 innings from Mccarthy, Eddie Guardado got Snider on a foul out. Jason Jennings relieved Guardado after 1 batter and retired the next 2 batters of the inning. Jennings came back out for the 8th and after an error by young shortstop Elvis Andruws on an Alex Rios grounder and a subsequent groundout from Vernon Wells sent Rios to second base; in came C.J. Wilson. Wilson has had an inconsistent season thus far and got pretty unlucky on a bloop hit to right center field by Adam Lind which scored Rios from second. Ranger manager Ron Washington didn't like what he had seen and lifted Wilson after facing just one batter. In came the Ranger's closer, Frank Francisco who immediately allowed a single and a walk to load the bases for Toronto. Francisco regained his composure and after a terrific catch by third baseman Michael Young on a (former Ranger catcher) Rod Barajas' hard hit liner down the left field line made it 2 outs; he got Snider to pop out to center. The Rangers closer got a flyout to start the ninth, but then allowed a double before calming down and getting a ground out and pop out to the shortstop to close the game for his 2nd save of the season.
The win was Brandon Mccarthy's second of the young season (2-0) and lowered his ERA for the season to a respectable 4.76. The was an excellent start for Mccarthy considering how hot the bats on this young Toronto Blue Jays team had been. The Blue Jays are first in the Ameican league in batting average and runs scored. The are also 3rd in slugging percentage and on base percentage.
This game also shows the power of the Texas Ranger hitters in that the Blue Jays starting pitching staff as a whole had only allowed 2 home runs in their prievious 32 innings, and the Rangers hit two this game alone off of their best starter.
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