Texas Rangers Fall to Blue Jays, Game 4 Tomorrow

By Ric Dickens | Oct 11, 2015

Oct 11, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers right fielder Shin-Soo Choo reacts after striking out against the Toronto Blue Jays in the 8th inning in game three of the ALDS at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

The Texas Rangers (2-1) fall to the Toronto Blue Jays (1-2) by a final score of 5-1 in Arlington Texas. The Rangers bats were silenced for most of the night, and the Blue Jays looked like a team that didn’t want their season to end tonight. Martin Perez (0-1 7.20 ERA) took the loss for the Rangers, while Marco Estrada (1-0 1.42 ERA) got the win for the visiting Blue Jays.

Martin Perez got off to a magnificent start for the Rangers, retiring the first six hitters that he faced. Both pitchers were getting after it, and it looked like it was going to be a pitchers duel. Unfortunately for the Rangers, Perez began to run into trouble in the third inning.

In the third inning, Blue Jays backstop Marco Navaro drove a ball over Rangers center fielder Delino DeShields head for a lead-off double. Perez induced Ryan Goins into a double play, but Navaro was able to cross the play for a 1-0 lead.

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Perez struggled with his command again in the fourth inning, when he walked Troy Tulowitzki, his third of the inning, to score Josh Donaldson. Perez’s night was officially over in the sixth inning, and he allowed six hits and four earned runs.

The big blow came in the sixth inning, when Tulowitzki blasted a three run home run and broke the game wide open. Chi Chi Gonzalez tried to sneak a 3-2 change-up past him, but he sat back on him and turned on it into the left field seats.

For the Rangers offense, they were shut down by a masterful performance from Marco Estrada. Estrada was able to work all three of his pitches to perfection, and he kept the Rangers hitters off-balance all night. His change-up was dancing and diving out of the strike zones, and he used his fastball to change eye levels exceptionally well. Estrada was masterful tonight and he put his name on the national map with tonight’s performance.

The Rangers will need that middle of the lineup to step up tomorrow, because the role players aren’t going to be able to win this series. Prince Fielder only has one hit in the series as does Shin Soo Choo, and these guys will have to step up. The good news for the Rangers offense was Josh Hamiltons two hits, and hopefully he can keep that going.

We don’t know if Adrian Beltre will be in the lineup tomorrow, but that would be a huge boost for these guys. Beltre has made progress, and we should know something tomorrow.

The Rangers will turn to Derek Holland tomorrow, and the Blue Jays will counter with knuckleballer R.A. Dickey. First pitch is scheduled for 3:07 pm CT, where the Rangers will try to win the series in front of their fans.

Next: Rangers take marathon game two, push Jays to brink

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