Gibson strong rebound for Rangers in 2-1 win over Blue Jays

Ian Kennedy, the third Texas reliever, struck out three around a hit in the ninth for his second save, both in less than 24 hours. The 36-year-old right-hander went to spring training on a minor league deal with Texas, which then lost potential closers Jose Leclerc and Jonathan Hernandez to injuries.

Six days earlier, in the first opening-day start for Gibson in his nine big league seasons, the Rangers led 5-0 at Kansas City before he had thrown his first pitch. But Gibson recorded only one out while facing eight batters and giving up five runs. It was the shortest opening day start in franchise history, the shortest in the majors since 1982 and the only time he failed he to get out of the first inning.

Gibson got an out against the Blue Jays on Semien’s flyball to left on the first pitch, and had five strikeouts the first time through the order. Toronto had the bases loaded with one out in the fifth after Semien walked before Cavan Biggio grounded into a double play.

Solak led off the Rangers second with his first home run this season, pulling a 404-foot shot into the second deck in left. Catcher Jose Trevino reached on an infield single later in the inning and scored when Leody Taveras blooped a broken-bat single to short right.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Blue Jays: CF George Springer, who had hoped to make Blue Jays debut on Thursday, felt tightness in his right quad running bases. Springer started the season on the injured list with a strained left oblique muscle that gave him no issues during batting practice Tuesday before running the bases. … C Danny Jansen was back in the lineup. He left the series opener Monday after taking a foul top off the inside of his right knee.

Rangers: 3B Brock Holt came out of Tuesday night’s game late with right hamstring tightness, but already wasn’t scheduled to start Wednesday against a left-handed pitcher.

UP NEXT

Blue Jays: Become the first team in MLB history to play home openers in three different cities over three consecutive seasons. They host the Los Angeles Angels at their spring training home in Dunedin, Florida, after playing home games in Buffalo last season. Their last game in their home park in Toronto was before the pandemic in 2019.

Rangers: After a day off for the team Thursday, Japanese RHP Kohei Arihara (0-0, 5.40 ERA) makes his first home start for Texas in a series opener against the San Diego Padres on Friday night.

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Stephen Hawkins, The Associated Press

by Canadian Press

Gibson strong rebound for Rangers in 2-1 win over Blue Jays

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