Texas Rangers shortstop Ezequiel Duran (20) slides safely into second base with a steal, ahead of a tag by Toronto Blue Jays infielder Ernie Clement (22) during sixth inning MLB baseball action in Toronto on Friday, June 26, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jon Blacker
Toronto Blue Jays infielder Andres Gimenez, right, puts the home run jacket on Toronto Blue Jays infielder Kazuma Okamoto (7) after Okamoto hit a three-run home run against the Texas Rangers during eighth inning MLB baseball action in Toronto on Friday, June 26, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jon Blacker
Texas Rangers relief pitcher Jacob Latz (67) and catcher Elias Diaz, left, celebrate their team's victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in MLB baseball action in Toronto on Friday, June 26, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jon Blacker
Texas Rangers shortstop Ezequiel Duran (20) slides safely into second base with a steal, ahead of a tag by Toronto Blue Jays infielder Ernie Clement (22) during sixth inning MLB baseball action in Toronto on Friday, June 26, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jon Blacker
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Toronto Blue Jays infielder Andres Gimenez, right, puts the home run jacket on Toronto Blue Jays infielder Kazuma Okamoto (7) after Okamoto hit a three-run home run against the Texas Rangers during eighth inning MLB baseball action in Toronto on Friday, June 26, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jon Blacker
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Texas Rangers relief pitcher Jacob Latz (67) and catcher Elias Diaz, left, celebrate their team's victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in MLB baseball action in Toronto on Friday, June 26, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jon Blacker
TORONTO - Nathan Eovaldi struck out nine over seven shutout innings as the Texas Rangers hung on to defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 on Friday.
Eovaldi (8-7) scattered five hits and walked only one in his 92-pitch outing as the Blue Jays (39-43) suffered their fourth straight defeat before 41,689 at Rogers Centre.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. broke up the 36-year-old Eovaldi’s no-hit bid with a one-out single through the right side of the infield in the fourth inning.
Guerrero also knocked in two runs with a single off reliever Jakob Junis in the eighth. Kazuma Okamoto followed with a two-run homer for his club-leading 19th.
Texas closer Jacob Latz came on in the ninth to earn his 16th save.
The Rangers (40-42) enjoyed a 6-0 lead after three innings and snatched a five-run advantage after three on Friday.
They sent eight batters to the plate in a three-run first inning, and Justin Foscue slammed his fifth homer, a two-run shot to left field in the third inning.
Blue Jays starter Patrick Corbin (2-4) surrendered all five runs on seven hits with a walk and five strikeouts, lasting only 4 1/3 innings. The lefty has not won since May 23.
Jesus Sanchez left the game after injuring his left foot while making a catch in the seventh inning, jamming it on the base of the left-field wall.
TAKEAWAYS
Blue Jays: They are expected to promote 23-year-old Sean Keys from triple-A Buffalo on Saturday. The corner infielder/designated hitter has knocked out 21 homers this season, seven in 18 games with Buffalo and 14 in 49 outings with double-A New Hampshire.
Rangers: Lead-off batter Wyatt Langford has reached base safely in 10 straight games after a three-hit outing.
KEY MOMENT
With runners on first and third with one out in the sixth, Guerrero hit into an inning-ending double play.
KEY STAT
A 1-4 start to their 10-game homestand has dropped the Blue Jays to .500 (22-22) at home in 2026.
UP NEXT
Righty Dylan Cease (4-3) will start for Toronto on Saturday. Texas manager Skip Schumaker had not yet named his pitcher for the third outing of the four-game set.
This report by ¹ú²úÓÕ»ó¸£Àû was first published June 26, 2026.