Sep 19, 2024, 05:35 PM ET
ARLINGTON, Texas — Kevin Gausman pitched five no-hit innings before exiting with lower back tightness, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit two solo homers after that and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Texas Rangers 4-0 on Thursday to avoid a series sweep.
Texas managed only two singles against Gausman and four relievers.
Gausman (13-11) struck out six and the only runner he allowed was on a walk in the fifth. The 33-year-old right-hander, who threw 38 of his 58 pitches for strikes, said he had a weird feeling in his back after throwing his final warmup pitch before the first inning.
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“Was happy to get through five,” Gausman said. “Yeah, weird day for me. I had a no-no going and I came out of the game, which is crazy. … With how bad I felt physically, I don’t know how I didn’t give up hits, to be honest.”
Dillon Tate struck out two of the three batters he faced in a perfect sixth after Gausman told manager John Schneider he was done. Génesis Cabrera then took over in the seventh, and Josh Smith lined the first pitch sharply into right-center for a hit, though he was thrown out trying to stretch it for a double.
“I had to make sure he knew he had a no-hitter going when he said he was good and he did,” Schneider said. “Pitch count was good, I thought his stuff was good. Splitter was probably the best it’s been in a while. Just didn’t want to take any chances with him with the way he’s feeling.”
Guerrero has 30 homers after going deep in the seventh and ninth innings. His first multi-homer game this season was the 10th in his career.
The reigning World Series champion Rangers (73-80) were officially eliminated from the AL West race, falling 9½ games behind the division-leading Houston Astros with nine games to play. Texas was seven back in the wild-card race.
Rangers rookie Kumar Rocker (0-1) struck out five, walked four and hit a batter over three innings in his second career start. He was the Rangers’ first-round draft pick two years ago, and he allowed two runs (one earned) in what will be his only appearance at home this season.
The closest the Rangers came to a hit against Gausman was when Adolis García hit a sharp grounder along the first-base line that went foul leading off the fifth inning. García then took a called third strike on an 85.2 mph slider that appeared to be low. Nathaniel Lowe walked on four pitches before Gausman struck out the final two batters he faced.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
