TORONTO – Ernie Clement homered in the ninth inning to give the Toronto Blue Jays a 6-5 victory over Texas on Friday night, ending the defending champion Rangers’ winning streak at five.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. reached base four times as the Blue Jays snapped a six-game losing streak against the Rangers.
Justin Turner homered against Josh Sborz (2-1) in the ninth and was replaced by Steward Berroa, who stole second.
Sborz left after walking Guerrero, with Kirby Yates coming in to strike out Danny Jansen for the second out. Spencer Horwitz was intentionally walked to load the bases for Clement, who lined a first pitch to left.
Chad Green (3-2) worked 1 1/3 innings for the win.
Adolis García scored and drove in three runs for Texas.
García gave the Rangers a 5-4 lead in the fifth inning with a home run that ricocheted off the top of the right field wall and hit the foul screen. The home run was the 18th.
Toronto tied it with Jonathan Hernández in the seventh when Jansen hit a bases-loaded sacrifice fly. Jacob Latz faced Horwitz and held the tie when Horwitz lined out and Turner doubled at second base.
García opened the scoring with a two-out RBI single off Yusei Kikuchi in the first, driving in Marcus Semien.
The Rangers thought they had run a double play to end the first, but Toronto challenged and replay showed that shortstop Corey Seager had not touched second base.
Horwitz and Clement made the extra chance count with doubles on consecutive pitches. Horwitz scored two and scored on Clement’s hit.
Blue Jays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier made a Sensational diving catch to retire Wyatt Langford with two runners on third. Two batters later, Jonah Heim tied it at 3 with a two-run single.
Making what could be his final home start before a possible trade with a contender, Kikuchi allowed five runs and eight hits in 4 2/3 innings, extending his winless streak to eight. He walked two and struck out five.
Many in the crowd of 35,065 received a standing ovation when Kikuchi was replaced by Génesis Cabrera.
PACK YOUR BAGS
Toronto traded RHP Yimi García to Seattle for two minor leaguers, OF Jonatan Clase and C Jacob Sharp. The speedy Clase was assigned to Triple-A Buffalo. Sharp will go to Class A Vancouver.
García, who becomes a free agent after the World Series, said he expected to leave struggling Toronto.
“Everything is already packed,” he said. “I was ready for it. We packed everything.”
ROSTER MOVEMENTS
Toronto recalled RHPs Zach Pop and Yerry Rodríguez from Triple-A Buffalo, and optioned RHP Ryan Burr to Triple-A.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rangers: OF Evan Carter (back) is shutting down baseball activities pending consultation with a specialist, manager Bruce Bochy said. … 3B Josh Jung (right wrist) went 1 for 3 with a single in the first game of an injury rehab assignment at Double-A Frisco.
NEXT
Blue Jays RHP Kevin Gausman (8-8, 4.55 ERA) was scheduled to start Saturday against RHP Michael Lorenzen (5-5, 3.53).
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