Game 118: Rangers Lost in Blue Jay Way

After a much needed win the day before in New York, the Rangers have dropped game one of a three game series to the Toronto Blue Jays. The final score: Rangers 2, Blue Jays 3.

The offense was confounded by J.A. Happ (9-10, 4.88 ERA), who allowed one earned run on two hits. He struck out eight Ranger batters and walked one. The first of two runs came in the fifth inning; singles by Michael Young and David Murphy led to a sac bunt by Geovany Soto to move both runners. Craig Gentry grounded out, but allowed Young to score from third. In the seventh, with Adrian Beltre on first via a walk, a Murphy single allowed Beltre to get to third. Nelson Cruz later walked to load the bases for Mike Olt. Olt hit a line drive towards third and the hit was booted by Omar Vizquel, allowing Beltre to score and loading the bases again for Ian Kinsler. Kinsler then grounded into a force out to end the inning and the Rangers scoring chances.

Yu Darvish (12-9, 4.51 ERA), despite a shaky first inning, managed to go seven complete innings with ten strike outs. He also only yielded three earned runs on three hits and only surrendered one walk, which was key in the Blue Jays offensive game. After walking Kelly Johnson in the bottom of the first, he then gave up a home run to Edwin Encarnacion (home run number 31 for him), putting the Jays up 2-0. Over the next six innings, Darvish yielded only two more hits, a triple to Anthony Gose and then a single to Rajai Davis, which scored Gose in the fifth inning.

The bullpen was put into action in the eighth inning when Alexi Ogando was called in to relieve Darvish. He sailed past the first two batters, getting Gose to strike out and Davis to fly out to Murphy. After getting ahead of Johnson 0-2, Johnson then hit a ground rule double; an intent walk of Encarnacion followed the double. He then got  David Cooper to ground out to end the inning. He would be the only bullpen member called on during the game.

Game Two Probables: **Roy Oswalt (4-2, 6.53 ERA) vs. Carlos Villanueva (6-2, 3.12 ERA)

** Oswalt is spot starting for Ryan Dempster, who is currently not with the team due to passport issues that prevented him from traveling with the team.