Daulton Varsho hit a two-run homer and the host Toronto Blue Jays took advantage of a depleted Texas Rangers pitching staff for a 7-3 victory on Sunday afternoon.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had a solo homer and two RBIs to extend his hit streak to nine games for the Blue Jays, who swept the three-game series to complete a 5-4 homestand.
Josh Smith hit a two-run homer and Corey Seager added three hits for Texas.
Texas starter Jon Gray did not make a pitch. He was removed with a groin injury during his warmup. Jonathan Hernandez (3-1) took his place and allowed five runs, five hits and a walk in 2 1/3 innings.
Texas got only two-thirds of an inning from starter Michael Lorenzen on Saturday in a 7-3 loss. Lorenzen pitched four innings on Sunday as a reliever.
Toronto right-hander Jose Berrios (9-8) allowed one run and six hits with five strikeouts in seven innings.
After being pressed into service, Hernandez walked Spencer Horwitz to open the first. Ernie Clement doubled and Guerrero hit a sacrifice fly. Varsho hit a two-out blast to right for his 13th homer of the season.
Guerrero stroked his 19th homer of the season on a drive to right center with one out in the third. After Justin Turner’s infield hit, Jacob Latz replaced Hernandez and walked Varsho. Addison Barger hit a two-run double.
Texas scored once in the sixth. Wyatt Langford doubled with one out on a drive that sent center fielder Kevin Kiermaier crashing into the wall and he scored on Nathaniel Lowe’s two-out single.
Lorenzen allowed a run in the home sixth. Alejandro Kirk and Kiermaier singled and Leo Jimenez hit a sacrifice fly. Kiermaier, feeling the effects of his collision with the wall, was replaced by pinch runner Steward Berroa.
Genesis Cabrera allowed two runs in the eighth when Seager singled and Smith hit his 11th homer. Cabrera allowed two more hits before being replaced by Zach Pop, who also pitched a perfect ninth to earn his first save.
With catcher Danny Jansen traded to the Boston Red Sox, Toronto recalled Brian Serven from Triple-A Buffalo on Sunday.
–Field Level Media