Rangers fall to the Blue Jays 7-2 to lose fourth in a row
Texas could not get much offence going against the Toronto Blue Jays Monday nor could they stop the Blue Jays as they lost 7-2 at Rogers Centre in Toronto.
The Rangers' bats were controlled by Blue Jays starting pitcher Ricky Romero once again. He only allowed seven hits over seven innings of work and only one earned run. In his last start against the Rangers on May 15 he pitched a complete game shut out.
Tommy Hunter, who started for the Rangers, also gave up seven hits over seven innings, but allowed seven earned runs as well. Hunter had won his last three starts giving up a combined eight runs over all three, but had some control issues early on against the Blue Jays and struggled throughout the game.
Toronto got on the scoreboard first in the second innings thanks to a wild pitch that allowed Vernon Wells to score from third base. An innings later, Wells padded the lead for the Blue Jays with his second home run in two days and No. 25 on the season to make the score 4-0. Aaron Hill added to the lead with a home run over the left-centre field wall to make the lead 6-0 Blue Jays after just three innings.
Texas scored their first run in the fourth innings when Dave Murphy hit a single to centre field that scored Vladimir Guerrero. They got runners in scoring position during the seventh and eighth innings, but were unable to convert those opportunities into runs.
The Rangers were playing without their AL MVP candidate Josh Hamilton for the second day in a row. Hamilton injured his ribs after hitting the wall making a catch against the Minnesota Twins on Saturday. He stayed in the game afterwards, but ended up leaving after the fifth innings. The team was also without short stop Elvis Andrus who is nursing a right hamstring injury; Andrus is expected to miss the entire series with the Blue Jays.
With the loss the Rangers dropped to 75-62 on the season, and 14-24 against AL East opponents. Texas has dropped six of seven games to the Blue Jays this season.
Cliff Lee was scheduled to take the mound on Tuesday, but has been scratched due to pain in his back. Scott Feldman could return from the disabled list to start Tuesday against the Blue Jays. The team has yet to decide when Lee may make his return.
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