texas

Martin Delivers Winning Hit, Blue Jays Beat Rangers 4-3

Russell Martin singled home the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning and the Toronto Blue Jays beat Texas 4-3 on Wednesday night, their second straight last at-bat victory over the Rangers.

Edwin Encarnacion singled off Tony Barnette (1-2) to begin the ninth and was replaced by pinch-runner Ezequiel Carrera. Justin Smoak walked, Troy Tulowitzki popped up and Kevin Pillar walked to load the bases for Martin, who drove a ball beyond the reach of Nomar Mazara into the right field corner.

Martin was mobbed behind the mound by his teammates. The Blue Jays won 3-1 in 10 innings Tuesday on Justin Smoak's second home run of the game.

Roberto Osuna (1-0) worked one inning for the win.

The Rangers have lost two straight after winning five of six. They are 5-8 on the road.

Texas opened a 2-0 lead in the first. Adrian Beltre hit an RBI single and Ian Desmond drove in the second run with a fielder's choice groundout.

Jose Bautista halved the deficit with an RBI single in the bottom half, but Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor made it 3-1 with an RBI single in the second.

After a visit from pitching coach Pete Walker, Blue Jays right-hander Aaron Sanchez set down 11 of the next 12 batters. Sanchez allowed three runs and seven hits in seven innings.

Following Bautista's first-inning single, Lewis retired 16 of 17 before the Blue Jays tied it in the sixth. Bautista drew a two-out walk and Encarnacion followed with a homer into the second deck, his fourth.

Lewis, who came in 3-6 with a 7.13 ERA in 10 starts against Toronto, allowed three runs and five hits in seven innings. He walked one and matched a season-high by striking out seven.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Rangers: Minor league 3B Joey Gallo (left groin) is expected to miss three to four weeks. Gallo was batting .254 with seven homers and 16 RBIs at Triple-A Round Rock.

UP NEXT

Rangers: LHP Derek Holland (3-1, 2.48) is 3-2 with a 5.15 ERA in eight career games against Toronto but 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA in three games at Rogers Centre.

Blue Jays: LHP J.A. Happ (3-0, 2.76) has worked at least six innings and allowed three runs or fewer in all five starts this season. He was 1-1 with a 1.98 ERA in two starts against Texas last year.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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