Seager’s three RBIs help Rangers sweep Blue Jays

Corey Seager had a home run and a two-run double as the Texas Rangers beat the Blue Jays 9-2 on Thursday, further dimming Toronto's post-season hopes.

TORONTO – Corey Seager had a home run and a two-run double as the Texas Rangers beat the Blue Jays 9-2 on Thursday, further dimming Toronto’s post-season hopes.

The loss dropped the Blue Jays to a game and a half back of the idle Seattle Mariners in the race for the third and final American League wild-card berth.

Jonah Heim had a solo shot as Texas (82-64) completed a four-game sweep at Rogers Centre and won its sixth straight game. Marcus Semien added an RBI double, Nathaniel Lowe singled in two runs, and Josh Smith had a sacrifice fly.

The Rangers started the series outside of a wild-card spot but moved up to the second spot behind the Tampa Bay Rays thanks to the sweep.

Nathan Eovaldi allowed two runs on three hits and three walks, striking out three. Eovaldi was on a limited pitch count, so he exited the game after 3 1/3 innings with Cody Bradford (4-1), Jose Leclerc, Will Smith and Jonathan Hernandez coming on in relief.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr’s two-run homer was all the offence the Blue Jays (80-67) could muster. Bo Bichette had a single and a double to break out of a small hitting slump.

Kevin Gausman (11-9) gave up four runs on six hits and six walks, striking out five, in 4 2/3 innings of work. Tim Mayza, Erik Swanson, Trevor Richards, Yimi Garcia and Bowden Francis came out of Toronto’s bullpen.

Texas got to Gausman early, with Seager taking him deep on an 87.2 m.p.h. splitter, only the fourth pitch of the game. Seager’s 31st home run of the season flew 422 feet into right-centre field.