Blue Jays leave Texas on losing note
Last Updated: Thursday, September 3, 2009 | 3:41 AM ET
CBC Sports
Aaron Hill, left, Vernon Wells and Kevin Millar watch glumly from the dugout during a 6-4 loss in Texas on Wednesday night.
(Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press)Toronto rode into Texas with guns ablazin', scoring 18 runs in a series-opening win over the Rangers. Three consecutive losses later, the Blue Jays bolted town with their tails between their legs.
Rookie Elvis Andrus and Nelson Cruz homered off North Vancouver native Scott Richmond and drove in two runs apiece as the Rangers beat the Blue Jays 6-4 in the finale of the four-game set on Wednesday.
"Our young guys have turned into big boys quickly," Rangers outfielder Marlon Byrd said. "They're not afraid and they're having fun."
With the win, Texas moved to within 2½ games of the front-running Boston Red Sox in the American League wild-card race.
"It is pretty fun being a part of a pennant race," Cruz said. "Everybody is watching every pitch and every play."
Toronto has spiralled out of contention, concluding the road trip at 1-6 and losing 15 of the last 21 games.
"It is not good," Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston said.
"We're trying to be spoilers," Richmond added. "We're trying to stir the pot a little bit and fell short."
Hamilton hurtin'
Josh Hamilton left in the fourth with a sore lower back but not before sliding headfirst into second base on a leadoff double and scoring on Nelson Cruz's RBI single. Already missing was fellow all-star Michael Young, who strained a hamstring running to first base on Tuesday.
"I have been getting treatment and doing everything I can to make it feel better. It seems like the more I run, the worse it feels." — Josh Hamilton
"It seems like when adversity hits this team, they play their best." — Rangers manager Ron Washington
Adam Lind had a splendid series for the Blue Jays (59-73) with three home runs and 10 runs batted in, including an RBI double to open the scoring Wednesday.
Lyle Overbay's RBI single in the top of the first inning staked Richmond to an early 2-0 lead, but the rookie right-hander failed to hold it and suffered the loss.
Richmond (6-8) was charged with six runs on seven hits and four walks with three strikeouts in five innings pitched.
"It hasn't been too good for him lately," Gaston said. "I thought his velocity was down a little bit.
"I don't remember him hitting 90 or 91 [mph]. Maybe he just didn't have his good stuff."
"I need to be more focused," Richmond figured. "I feel like I am focused.
"But I need to be a little more focused on every pitch in terms of getting longer in games. Later in games is when I get tired and things aren't going as smoothly as they were the first couple of innings, so I need to execute every pitch."
Overbay and Randy Ruiz homered in a losing cause off Texas starter Tommy Hunter.
Hunter (7-3) lasted seven innings, limiting Toronto to four runs and five hits with two walks and four strikeouts.
Closer Frank Francisco recorded the final two outs for his third save of the series and 22nd overall.
With files from The Canadian Press
