Espinal delivers go-ahead hit, Blue Jays beat Rangers 4-3

TORONTO (AP) — Pinch-hitter Santiago Espinal doubled home the go-ahead run in the sixth inning, Bo Bichette singled and homered, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Texas Rangers 4-3 Saturday.

George Springer and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. each had two hits, and Bichette scored twice as the Blue Jays improved to 2-0 for the first time since 2016.

Facing left-hander Brett Martin (0-1), Espinal hit for Cavan Biggio with a runner at first and two out. Speedy Raimel Tapia scored without a play at the plate on Espinal’s double to left-center.

Espinal also had a go-ahead RBI double in Friday’s season-opening win.

“Any chance he gets, he produces,” said Bichette. “That’s a special quality, to stay locked in at all times. Obviously he’s helped us a lot.”

Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo called Espinal “an unsung hero.”

Espinal gained some weight in offseason workouts and said he’s been noticing the results.

“It feels a lot different from last year and I can tell by my swing, even in BP,” he said.

Of all the hitters in Toronto’s loaded lineup, Rangers manager Chris Woodward was frustrated about being beaten by Espinal.

“We’ve got to stop throwing him fastballs down the middle,” Woodward said. “Anybody can hit those.”

Texas is 0-2 for the second straight season and has lost five in a row to Toronto.

“Overall, we just didn’t do enough to win the game when it came down to it,” Woodward said.

Blue Jays right-hander Trevor Richards (1-0) worked one inning for the win. Yimi García pitched the seventh, Tim Mayza worked the eighth, and Jordan Romano finished for his second save.

Romano has converted 25 consecutive save chances, matching Tom Henke’s 1998 team record.

Making his Toronto debut...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Espinal-delivers-go-ahead-hit-Blue-Jays-beat-17069740.php