The Texas Rangers aim to continue their recent home success on Thursday afternoon as they vie for a three-game series sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays in Arlington, Texas.
The Rangers (73-79) followed up a 13-run, 13-hit uprising in the series opener on Tuesday with a 2-0 victory on Wednesday. Adolis Garcia belted a two-run homer in the sixth inning for Texas, which improved to 8-2 over its last 10 games at Globe Life Field.
Rookie Wyatt Langford homered and reached base five times on Monday before leading off the sixth with a single on Tuesday.
“We haven’t seen the best of this guy,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said of the 22-year-old Langford.
“No. 1 because of his talent, but how hard he works and how committed he is to his craft. You can play him anywhere in the outfield, hit him anywhere in the top five, six spots in the order. He’s going to be a lot of fun to watch here in the next few years for the fans.”
Garcia has been fun for the fans in his own right. He followed up Langford’s single by crushing a first-pitch sinker over the wall in left field to provide all the offense the Rangers would need on Wednesday.
Alejandro Kirk extended his hitting streak to a career-high 12 games with a single to lead off the fifth inning on Wednesday for the Blue Jays (72-80).
The Rangers will send Kumar Rocker (0-0, 2.25 ERA) to the mound for his second career start against fellow right-hander Kevin Gausman (12-11, 4.02).
Rocker, 24, overcame a shaky start to his major league debut last Thursday, allowing one run on three hits while striking out seven over four innings. He was pulled after 74 pitches in Texas’ win over the Seattle Mariners.
“We got him where we wanted him, around 75 pitches, and he’s got to feel good about that start,” Bochy said. “I’m sure he was nervous out there, and then the first two guys get hits, and, you know, he’s got runners in scoring position, nobody out, and he made pitches when he had to. So it says a lot about him.”
Gausman, 33, saw his winless skid extend to three starts despite permitting two runs over seven innings in a no-decision against the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday.
He went the distance in his last start versus Texas, yielding three runs on four hits in nine innings of a 7-3 home victory on July 27. He is 6-3 with a 3.66 ERA in 12 career appearances (11 starts) against the Rangers.
Toronto’s Bo Bichette was a late scratch on Wednesday due to a right middle finger contusion sustained during pregame warmups. The move came one day after the two-time All-Star competed in his first game in two months after being activated from the injured list due to a calf strain.
Also, the Blue Jays announced infielder Will Wagner will undergo surgery on his left knee that will require at least four weeks of rest. He is the son of former major leaguer Billy Wagner.
“He’s probably a little bit relieved that he’s getting this taken care of now,” Toronto manager John Schneider said. “He showed really well and he’s a guy we’re confident in and rightfully so.”
