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Ricky Romero Dominates Rangers With 12-K Shutout; Blue Jays Win 6-0
Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Ricky Romero struck out 12 in his first career shutout, and Jose Bautista hit two home runs, as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Texas Rangers, 6-0, in the middle contest of a three-game set.
With the teams coming off a wild series opener, which Toronto won by a 16-10 score, Romero (4-1) shone by contrast. His 12 strikeouts tied a career high, and he gave up five hits and one walk in what was also his first career complete game.
Bautista finished 3-for-4 with five runs batted in for Toronto, which has won its last three overall.
“We’ll take as many [runs] as we can get,” Bautista said. “We can just let that young pitching staff relax and go out and do their thing, and then our defense relaxes as well and we can just play loose.”
Scott Feldman (1-4) took the loss after allowing five runs on nine hits and a walk in 7 1/3 innings. He also struck out five for the Rangers, who were shut out for the first time this season.
“Bottom line, we didn’t win today,” Feldman said. “Romero threw a good game. One run would have been enough today the way he was throwing.”
The Blue Jays took the lead in the first inning, which Fred Lewis began with a double. After Aaron Hill singled, Adam Lind's base hit to right got a run in.
Toronto kept the 1-0 lead thanks to Romero, who largely cruised as Texas’ hits were isolated.
No Rangers batter even reached second base until the fifth, when David Murphy singled and advanced on a wild pitch -- Romero's major league-leading 13th. But Romero retired the next two batters on fly outs to end the inning.
Bautista then opened the bottom half by hitting Feldman’s second pitch, a ball slightly down to the outer part of the plate, to left for his first homer. His run-scoring single in the sixth gave Toronto a 3-0 lead.
The Blue Jays doubled their advantage in the eighth, which Vernon Wells began with a triple. After Feldman got Lyle Overbay to ground out, he walked Alex Gonzalez, and Rangers manager Ron Washington decided to bring in right-hander Darren O'Day to face the right-handed Bautista.
But the move backfired, as Bautista ripped a fastball down the middle to left- center field for a three-run shot.
Romero then worked around a two-out single by Vladimir Guerrero to complete the shutout.
The multi-homer game was the fourth of Bautista's career...Romero lowered his ERA to 2.88...Toronto has won four of the five meetings with Texas this season...On Saturday, the Rangers recalled right-handers Guillermo Moscoso and Pedro Strop from Triple-A Oklahoma City. To make room on the roster, the Rangers optioned outfielder Craig Gentry and right-hander Doug Mathis to Oklahoma City.
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