Final
Wang sharp, Jays complete four-game sweep of Rangers
Jun 17, 2013 - 4:45 AM Arlington, TX (Sports Network) - Chien-Ming Wang's terrific start and three Toronto home runs capped the Blue Jays' four-game sweep, 7-2, and sent the Texas Rangers to their longest losing streak in three years.Wang (1-0) gave up seven hits in seven scoreless innings, struck out five and walked two in picking up his first victory of the season.
"He has given us a big boost, and he's pitching great," said Blue Jays manager John Gibbons. "This is his opportunity, and he's taking advantage of it."
Adam Lind hit a three-run homer, J.P. Arencibia added a two-run shot and Colby Rasmus also went deep for the Jays, who have rattled off five straight wins for the first time since July 8-15, 2011.
The Rangers have gone the other way and are in the midst of their first six- game slide since April 15-21, 2010. Texas has not had a starting pitcher earn a winning decision all month and has scored just eight runs during its skid.
"We're playing hard, but we're not getting it done," Texas catcher A.J. Pierzynski said. "There's not much else to it. We're just not winning games. There's no other way to put it."
Derek Holland (5-4) was charged with four runs on 10 hits over six-plus frames to take the latest loss.
Arencibia launched a two-run blast into the first row of seats in left field in the second inning, and Rasmus turned on a breaking ball and hit it off the right-field foul pole to open the fourth for his third home run in as many games.
Wang, in his second start of the year, stranded a runner in scoring position in the second, fourth, fifth and seventh innings. Edwin Encarnacion helped him out in the fourth when he made a diving snag of Nelson Cruz's line drive down the third-base line with runners on the corners.
The Jays added plenty insurance in the seventh. Melky Cabrera ended Holland's outing with a leadoff double, and Jose Bautista greeted Kyle McClellan with an RBI single. After Encarnacion walked, Lind took McClellan deep to right for a healthy cushion.
Texas finally got on the board in the ninth when Elvis Andrus drove in a run with an infield single. Ian Kinsler worked a walk with the bases loaded to push another run across, but Neil Wagner got Adrian Beltre on a flyout to left to finish off Toronto's first four-game sweep of the Rangers in Arlington.
Game Notes
Texas' rotation had received an MLB-low 1.97 runs of support per nine innings in June coming in ... Texas recorded eight hits, extending a streak of 10 hits or less to 15 consecutive games, the club's longest stretch since going 15 straight to begin the 1988 season ... The was the first time the Rangers were swept in a four-game series at home since the Orioles pulled off the feat in July 8-11, 2010 ... Rasmus has four home runs in his last six games ... Arencibia has 14 home runs on the season ... The Blue Jays won six of the seven games in the season series.
- TORONTO: 7
TEXAS: 2
Final
Jun 16 6:03 PM - Ian Kinsler walked Leonys Martin scored on the play with two outs. Bases loaded and Adrian Beltre due up.
Blue Jays 7, Rangers 2 Bot 9, 2 OutsJun 16 6:01 PM - Elvis Andrus infield single to pitcher scored David Murphy with two outs. On the play, Jurickson Profar advances to second and Leonys Martin advances to third. Bases loaded and Ian Kinsler due up.
Blue Jays 7, Rangers 1 Bot 9, 2 OutsJun 16 5:57 PM - Adam Lind none-out, three-run Home Run (8) to right center scored Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion. Mark DeRosa due up.
Blue Jays 7, Rangers 0 Top 7, 0 OutsJun 16 5:09 PM - Jose Bautista single to center scored Emilio Bonifacio with none out. Runner on second and Edwin Encarnacion due up.
Blue Jays 4, Rangers 0 Top 7, 0 OutsJun 16 5:04 PM - Colby Rasmus lead-off Home Run (13) to right. J.P. Arencibia due up.
Blue Jays 3, Rangers 0 Top 4, 0 OutsJun 16 4:06 PM - J.P. Arencibia one-out, two-run Home Run (14) to left scored Colby Rasmus. Maicer Izturis due up.
Blue Jays 2, Rangers 0 Top 2, 1 OutJun 16 3:32 PM - TORONTO: 0
TEXAS: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Jun 16 3:09 PM
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