ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Five relievers held Toronto to six hits after Cal Quantrill left 12 pitches in because of right lat tightness, and the Rangers moved into sole possession of the AL West lead for the first time since late August with a 6-2 win over the Blue Jays on Saturday night.
Texas (78-77) has won six of seven and moved a half-game ahead of Houston (77-78), which holds the tiebreaker. The Rangers have a winning record for the first time since before play on Aug. 11.
Jordan Montgomery (1-0) got his first win since Aug. 14, 2024, pitching 3 2/3 hitless innings. He returned from Tommy John surgery this past Aug. 9.
Davis Schneider hit a pinch-homer for the AL champion Blue Jays (76-79), who have lost eight of 12. They trail the Chicago White Sox by three games for the AL's final wild card.
Quantrill, the son of former Toronto All-Star Paul Quantrill, retired George Springer on a groundout opening the second inning and didn't appear to exhibit any pain but didn't face another batter. The 31-year-old right-hander left his previous start on Sept. 13 at Arizona after 70 pitches because of a sore back.
Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said after the game he had no update on Quantrill, who is to have an MRI on Sunday.
Quantrill was followed by Montgomery, Nathan Eovaldi, Robert Garcia, Chase Silseth and Jacob Latz.
Texas scored twice in the second off José Soriano (12-8) without a base hit, helped by a walk, hit batter, infield throwing error and a wild pitch.
Texas' three-run sixth featured an RBI double by Wyatt Langford when left fielder Myles Straw pulled up as the ball land between him and the wall.
Soriano allowed six runs — five earned — pitching three batters into the sixth.
UP NEXT
Rangers RHP Jacob deGrom (11-9, 3.79), who is 8-2 at home this season with a .183 opponents batting average, starts Sunday while the Blue Jays employ a bullpen game.
