The Toronto Blue Jays took on the Texas Rangers and lost in a back-and-forth offensive outburst that saw the Jays lose by a score of 13-8.
But first, some roster moves for the Blue Jays. Bo Bichette was reinstated from the 10-day IL ahead of Tuesday’s game. Bichette had last played on July 19 before landing on the IL with a right calf strain. Bichette went 2 for 5 with an RBI in his return on Tuesday night.
Going the other way, Daulton Varsho was placed on the 10-day IL due to a shoulder strain and is slated to undergo season-ending rotator cuff surgery. Will Wagner was placed on the 60-day IL with left knee inflammation, which will also end his season early. With Wagner’s spot on the 40-man roster being vacated, the Blue Jays claimed right-hander Nick Robertson from the Los Angeles Angels and optioned him to Triple-A Buffalo.
Chris Bassitt (10-13, 4.20) got the ball for the Blue Jays while Nathan Eovaldi (11-6, 3.67) took the mound for the Rangers. Neither pitcher lasted very long in this game. Bassitt tossed 3 2/3 innings, giving up seven runs (one earned) on six hits, walking three and punching out two. Eovaldi threw 4 2/3 innings, allowing seven runs on 11 hits, walking two and striking out four. Both pitchers were handed no decisions.
The scoring started early, as the Blue Jays struck in the top of the 1st. An RBI double from Alejandro Kirk and an RBI single from Ernie Clement gave the Blue Jays a quick 2-0 lead.
In the 2nd, the Jays extended their lead to 3-0, thanks to an RBI double from Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
The Rangers got on the board as they scored twice in the bottom of the 3rd. An RBI double from Wyatt Langford made it 3-1. Then Adolis Garcia reached on a throwing error from Bassitt to make it 3-2.
In the bottom of the 4th, Justin Foscue grounded into a fielder’s choice to drive in the game-tying run. Josh Smith followed up with a sacrifice fly to give the Rangers a 4-3 lead. RBI singles from Garcia and Nathaniel Lowe then extended the Texas lead to 7-3.
The Blue Jays got those runs back in the top of the 5th as they threatened with the bases loaded and nobody out. An RBI ground out from Clement made it 7-4. Nathan Lukes drove in the Jays’ fifth run with an RBI single. Then Davis Schneider hit a two-run homer, his third in his last three games to tie the score at seven.
Texas took the lead back in the bottom of the 6th, scoring two runs on an RBI single from Jonah Heim.
The Rangers got their 10th run of the game when Wyatt Langford hit a solo shot in the bottom half of the 7th.
The Jays got one run back when Bichette drove in their eighth run with an RBI single in the top of the 8th.
The Rangers, however, would score more in the bottom half of the inning. A two-run homer from Leody Taveras extended the Texas lead to 12-8. Later in the inning, a bases-loaded walk from Garcia drove in the 13th run of the game for the Rangers.
The Blue Jays will look to bounce back and tie their series against the Rangers on Wednesday night. Bowden Francis (8-4, 3.50) will be on the bump for the Blue Jays as Cody Bradford (5-3, 3.98) will get the start for the Rangers.
