Texas manager Ron Washington rarely addresses his team after games. Yet after another disappointing performance, he thought the club needed to hear from him.
Chien-Ming Wang won for the first time in more than a year and the Toronto Blue Jays completed a four-game sweep of the Rangers with a 7-2 victory Sunday, handing Texas its sixth straight loss.
Washington didn't divulge the message he delivered after Texas lost its sixth in a row for the first time since April 2010.
"We're not the first team to lose six in a row and we probably won't be the last," Washington said. "We're tough enough to make it through this challenge." The Rangers fell to 1-6 on a season-high, 11-game homestand. This is Texas' first six-game slide at home since July 20-Aug. 3, 2005.
"I didn't sense any frustration," Texas outfielder David Murphy said. "We're past that point. Things didn't happen. With the amount of talent we have here, we're very close to turning this thing around."
Texas rookie Jurickson Profar started at third base for the first time in his career. All-Star Adrian Beltre had a scheduled day off in the field and was the designated hitter.
Before the game, Profar spent time on the field working with infield coach Dave Anderson.
Ian Kinsler batted third for the first time since May 22, 2011. He batted in that spot 60 times in 2010.
The changes didn't make a much of a difference as the Rangers finished the series 2 for 24 with runners in scoring position. They've scored only eight runs during their losing streak.
Texas will complete its homestand with a four-game series starting Monday against the AL West-leading Oakland Athletics.
"They're leading the division," Washington said. "If we're ever going to get back on track, this is the series to get back on track with." The last-place Blue Jays extended their winning streak to five games.
In his second start with the Blue Jays, Wang (1-0) allowed seven hits in seven shutout innings to win for the first time since last June 12 with Washington. Toronto signed Wang last Tuesday to bolster a rotation with three starters on the disabled list.
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The 33-year-old Wang twice won 19 games for the New York Yankees before injuries derailed his career. He hurt his right foot in 2008 and injured his right shoulder in 2009.
Wang was 4-4 with a 2.33 ERA in nine starts this year for the Yankees' Triple-A team at Scranton-Wilkes-Barre. New York released him last week at his request and Wang signed with the Blue Jays.
Colby Rasmus homered in his third straight game, and Adam Lind and J.P. Arencibia also chipped in with homers for Toronto. The Blue Jays outscored the Rangers 24-4 to sweep a four-game series at Texas for the first time.
Derek Holland (5-4) allowed four runs and 10 hits in six innings for the Rangers.
Elvis Andrus had an RBI single, and Kinsler walked with the bases loaded to break up the shutout in the ninth. "We're struggling right now, but I still believe in them," Washington said. "We're going to move forward."
Arencibia, who entered the series in a 3-for-41 rut, hit his second homer in three games. He lined an 0-1 pitch just over the 14-foot fence in left, a two-run shot that gave the Blue Jays a 2-0 lead.
It was the first home run Holland has given up since May 19.
Rasmus led off the fourth with a drive off the foul pole in right for his 13th homer. The Blue Jays scored four times in the seventh to extend their lead to 7-0. Jose Bautista had an RBI single, and Lind capped it with a three-run homer off Kyle McClellan.
Lind went 7 for 17 in the series with two home runs and six RBIs.
