Guerrero Jr. hits 2 home runs as Blue Jays put on offensive clinic in rout of Rangers
Hernandez, Semien, Grichuk also contribute longballs for Toronto in 10-2 win
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. followed up his breakout All-Star Game with two homers, and the Toronto Blue Jays powered past the Texas Rangers 10-2 on Friday night.
Guerrero, named the All-Star MVP on Tuesday night, connected off Texas starter Jordan Lyles in the first inning to make it 1-0 and added a three-run blast in the sixth against Dennis Santana, his 30th of the season. That led to chants of "M-V-P!" from the crowd of 10,100 as the Blue Jays opened their final stretch of games in their temporary Buffalo home. The team received approval from the Canadian government on Friday to return to Toronto for the homestand that begins July 30.
"Vladdy is one of the best players in baseball right now," Toronto manager Charlie Montoyo said. "He showed it in the All-Star Game and he showed it again today. He didn't have a break. That's what I like about going back to Toronto now: The fans get to watch one of the best players in baseball. He's been amazing."
Texas TOAST 💥 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PLAKATA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PLAKATA</a> <a href="https://t.co/ph852koaML">pic.twitter.com/ph852koaML</a>
—@BlueJaysMontoyo said his team was buoyed by the news of its return to Toronto.
"Everybody was smiling and everybody was happy," Montoyo said. "We took the momentum into the game."
Ray (8-4), who took a no-hitter into the seventh inning on Sunday at Tampa Bay, allowed four hits and two walks while striking out eight. Semien, Hernandez, and Grichuk all homered in the third for the Blue Jays, who won consecutive games for the first time since July 2-3.
"I like staying on a five-day schedule," Ray said. "I was able to stay in my routine, and I felt really good."
Eli White had a two-run homer in the ninth for the Rangers, who dropped their third straight and have lost six of eight. Lyles (5-6) went four innings and allowed four home runs for the second time in his career, with both instances coming in his last six appearances.
Montoyo paid tribute to the city that's hosted the Blue Jays for parts of two seasons.
"I don't want to forget about how great Buffalo has been to us," Montoyo said. "The job they did to make it closer to a big-league ballpark, and the stands were full. But we're the Toronto Blue Jays, and it'll be great to go home and show this team to the whole nation and Toronto."
