Jansen homers again to lift Blue Jays over slumping AL West-leading Rangers
Toronto starter Gausman works 6 innings to win 4th consecutive decision
Toronto Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman started talking about some of the weird things about teammate Danny Jansen, and then what he does best.
"Just a guy that everybody's rooting for and has such a unique swing, and no batting glove. It's just everything about him is pretty unique. He's bald, but he wears a headband, and so there's just a lot of kind of weird things," Gausman said. "But, man, he can really hit, and he always seems to get big hits for us when we need it."
Jansen homered for the third time in two games for Toronto's only runs, backing up six innings by Gausman to win his fourth consecutive decision, as the visiting Blue Jays beat the slumping American League West-leading Texas Rangers 2-1 on Friday night.
Martin Perez (6-3) walked Matt Chapman starting the fifth before Jansen hit his ninth homer, a 385-foot drive that just cleared the left-field wall. Jansen has gone deep six times in his last 12 games, though it was only his fourth game since coming off the injured list Tuesday after missing 2 1/2 weeks with a left groin strain.
"His swing is on point," Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. "He's in his career really, where he's just comfortable with it, and he's always been a really good fastball hitter. You don't really need that much of a tune up coming off the IL when you can be on top of the heater."
Stop us if you've heard this before...<br><br>🗣 Danny Jansen Dinger 🗣 <a href="https://t.co/s4Eps3yyJP">pic.twitter.com/s4Eps3yyJP</a>
—@BlueJaysA day earlier, Jansen hit two solo homers for Toronto's only runs in a 4-2 loss at Baltimore.
Gausman (6-3) struck out four to increase his AL-high total to 121 while allowing one run and four hits over six innings. The right-hander is 4-0 in his last eight starts. Jordan Romano, the third Blue Jays reliever, got four outs for his 20th save in 23 chances.
Leody Taveras homered leading off the third for the Rangers (42-27), who lost for the seventh time in nine games. It was the No. 9 hitter's seventh homer this season, all in 39 games since the start of May.
After going 9-for-49 (.184) with runners in scoring position while losing three of four in their series against the Los Angeles Angels, the Rangers were 0-for-9 in that situation against Toronto.
"That's the story of the game, we just couldn't get a hit with a runner in scoring position," Texas manager Bruce Bochy said. "We're just going through a very tough patch. … But I don't think they're doing anything different. Could they be pressing a little bit? Maybe, because they care. They want to win."
Toronto right-hander Adam Cimber returned from the paternity list and first baseman/outfielder Spencer Horwitz was recalled from triple-A Buffalo. The Blue Jays optioned righty Thomas Hatch and outfielder Nathan Lukes to Buffalo.
Rangers right-hander Dane Dunning (5-1, 2.76 ERA) starts the middle game of the series Saturday. The Blue Jays are going with a bullpen day.
