Kevin Gausman fights through back tightness, helps Jays two-hit Rangers

Kevin Gausman threw five hitless innings and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a pair of solo homers to back up a pair of early runs as the visiting Toronto Blue Jays beat the Texas Rangers 4-0 on Thursday afternoon in the finale of a three-game series in Arlington, Texas.

Gausman and the Blue Jays' bullpen combined to two-hit Texas, and Guerrero went 3-for-4 with three runs and a walk while smashing a long ball to left in the seventh and a shot to dead center in the ninth, his 29th and 30th homers of the season.

Toronto (73-80) avoided being swept in the three-game series, while the Rangers (73-80) lost for the sixth time in their last nine games.

Gausman (13-11) was perfect through 4 1/3 innings before surrendering a walk to Nathaniel Lowe. Gausman had six strikeouts on 58 pitches without allowing a hit before being removed because of "lower back tightness," according to the team.

Gausman appeared in some discomfort as early as the first inning, grimacing as he stretched his back. He gave way to Dillon Tate, who made his Toronto debut in the sixth.

A single by Josh Smith in the seventh against Genesis Cabrera was Texas' first hit, but he was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double. Erik Swanson threw a hitless eighth before Chad Green permitted one hit in the ninth.

In his second major league start and home debut, Texas rookie right-hander Kumar Rocker (0-1) surrendered two runs (one earned), two hits and four walks, striking out five in three innings.

Rocker, 24, was the third overall pick by the Rangers in the 2022 MLB Draft. He's working back from Tommy John surgery in May 2023.

Addison Barger drew a leadoff walk against Rocker in the second and scored on Nathan Lukes' one-out sac fly for the game's first run. In the third, Rocker allowed a walk and a hit, and Guerrero scored from third on an error with two outs to make it 2-0.

The Rangers' Walter Pennington tossed 2 2/3 scoreless innings of relief. Guerrero went deep against Matt Festa to lead off the seventh.

Spencer Horwitz also went 2-for-4 with a walk for Toronto as the Blue Jays put together seven hits.

The Blue Jays scratched shortstop Bo Bichette from the game after he fractured his right middle finger while taking ground balls in pregame warmups. The team later said Bichette, who'd just returned from two months on the injured list with a calf injury, is out for the rest of the season.

--Field Level Media