Rangers thump Blue Jays 10-4 in series opener

Jonah Heim hit a grand slam to power the Texas Rangers to a 10-4 rout of Toronto on Monday night to end the Blue Jays' three-game winning streak and gain ground in the American League wild-card race.

TORONTO – Jonah Heim hit a grand slam to power the Texas Rangers to a 10-4 rout of Toronto on Monday night to end the Blue Jays’ three-game winning streak and gain ground in the American League wild-card race.

Evan Carter had a solo shot for Texas and Dane Dunning (10-6) threw six-plus innings as the Rangers took the opener of a critical four-game series at Rogers Centre.

Blue Jays starter Chris Bassitt (14-8) allowed nine hits and five earned runs over 5 1/3 frames as Toronto’s lead over Texas was trimmed to just half a game.

The Rangers also temporarily pulled even with Seattle for the third and final AL wild-card spot. The Mariners were scheduled to host the Los Angeles Angels later Monday.

Cavan Biggio hit a solo homer in the ninth inning for the Blue Jays, who have lost three times in their last 11 games. The Rangers, who outhit Toronto 11-7, have won three straight.

Texas opened the scoring in the second inning in unusual fashion. With Biggio playing well off the bag at third base, Mitch Garver took a big lead down the third-base line.

Bassitt left the mound to chase him back to the base, but it was his third disengagement of the at-bat. The right-hander was charged with a balk and Garver trotted home.

Davis Schneider sparked Toronto’s two-run frame in the bottom half with a one-out single. He moved to second on a Biggio walk and scored on an Alejandro Kirk single.