Jays lose fourth straight with 5-4 setback to Rangers

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TORONTO - Nathan Eovaldi struck out nine over seven shutout innings as the Texas Rangers hung on to defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 on Friday.

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TORONTO – Nathan Eovaldi struck out nine over seven shutout innings as the Texas Rangers hung on to defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 on Friday.

Eovaldi (8-7) scattered five hits and walked only one in his 92-pitch outing as the Blue Jays (39-43) suffered their fourth straight defeat before 41,689 at Rogers Centre.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. broke up the 36-year-old Eovaldi’s no-hit bid with a one-out single through the right side of the infield in the fourth inning.

Texas Rangers shortstop Ezequiel Duran (20) slides safely into second base with a steal, ahead of a tag by Toronto Blue Jays infielder Ernie Clement (22) during sixth inning MLB baseball action in Toronto on Friday, June 26, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jon Blacker
Texas Rangers shortstop Ezequiel Duran (20) slides safely into second base with a steal, ahead of a tag by Toronto Blue Jays infielder Ernie Clement (22) during sixth inning MLB baseball action in Toronto on Friday, June 26, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jon Blacker

Guerrero also knocked in two runs with a single off reliever Jakob Junis in the eighth. Kazuma Okamoto followed with a two-run homer for his club-leading 19th.

Texas closer Jacob Latz came on in the ninth to earn his 16th save.

The Rangers (40-42) enjoyed a 6-0 lead after three innings and snatched a five-run advantage after three on Friday.

They sent eight batters to the plate in a three-run first inning, and Justin Foscue slammed his fifth homer, a two-run shot to left field in the third inning.

Blue Jays starter Patrick Corbin (2-4) surrendered all five runs on seven hits with a walk and five strikeouts, lasting only 4 1/3 innings. The lefty has not won since May 23.

Jesus Sanchez left the game after injuring his left foot while making a catch in the seventh inning, jamming it on the base of the left-field wall.

TAKEAWAYS

Blue Jays: They are expected to promote 23-year-old Sean Keys from triple-A Buffalo on Saturday. The corner infielder/designated hitter has knocked out 21 homers this season, seven in 18 games with Buffalo and 14 in 49 outings with double-A New Hampshire.

Rangers: Lead-off batter Wyatt Langford has reached base safely in 10 straight games after a three-hit outing.

KEY MOMENT

With runners on first and third with one out in the sixth, Guerrero hit into an inning-ending double play.

KEY STAT

A 1-4 start to their 10-game homestand has dropped the Blue Jays to .500 (22-22) at home in 2026.

UP NEXT

Righty Dylan Cease (4-3) will start for Toronto on Saturday. Texas manager Skip Schumaker had not yet named his pitcher for the third outing of the four-game set.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 26, 2026.

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