Kevin Gausman pitched a complete game, Daulton Varsho had a three-run homer and four RBIs and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the visiting Texas Rangers 7-3 on Saturday afternoon.
Gausman (9-8) allowed three runs, four hits and three walks while striking out eight in his second complete game of the season. He retired 18 consecutive batters before allowing a walk with two out in the ninth.
Alejandro Kirk, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Justin Turner each had three hits for the Blue Jays, who have won the first two games of the three-game series. The Rangers had a five-game winning streak end with a 6-5 loss on Friday.
Rangers right-hander Michael Lorenzen (5-6) lasted just two-thirds of an inning, allowing four runs, five hits and two walks with one strikeout.
Texas scored one in the first when Marcus Semien blooped a triple near the right-field line and scored on a wild pitch.
Toronto answered with four two-out runs in the bottom of the inning. Guerrero extended his hit streak with an infield single to third, Turner singled and Varsho’s fly carried over the left-field wall for his 12th homer of the season. Kirk singled, Davis Schneider walked and Ernie Clement hit an RBI single. Steward Berroa walked and Jose Urena replaced Lorenzen.
Texas scored twice in the third. Semien walked and scored on Wyatt Langford’s two-out double to right center. Adolis Garcia followed with an RBI single.
The bottom of the third ended when Langford threw out Schneider, who tried to score on Clement’s single.
The Blue Jays added a run in the fifth against Urena. Guerrero doubled, took third on Turner’s single and scored on Kirk’s single.
They increased the lead to 6-3 in the sixth against Dane Dunning. Berroa led off with a double, his first major league hit. He took third on George Springer’s single and scored on Spencer Horwitz’s sacrifice fly.
Toronto added a run in the eighth. Guerrero singled, Turner doubled and Varsho hit a sacrifice fly.
Toronto traded right-hander Nate Pearson on Saturday to the Chicago Cubs for two minor-leaguers — outfielder Yohendrick Pinango and infielder Josh Rivera. Right-hander Ryan Burr was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo.