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ALDS Game 1: Texas Rangers defeat Toronto Blue Jays, 5-3

By Tim Haberin

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David Price pitched some of his best baseball after being dealt to the Toronto Blue Jays at the trade deadline (9-1, 2.30 ERA in 11 starts), but he uncharacteristically struggled against the Texas Rangers in Game 1 of the American League Division Series. The left-hander allowed five runs on five hits in seven innings en route to a 5-3 defeat at the Rogers Centre.

The Rangers got on the board in the third inning as Delino DeShields Jr. and Adrian Beltre both singled in runs to stake out a 2-0 lead. The Jays got one back in the fourth with Ben Revere scoring on an infield single off the bat of Edwin Encarnacion.

The following inning saw catcher Robinson Chirinos, the ninth hitter in the Texas lineup, club a two-run home run off Price to expand the Rangers’ lead to three. Toronto’s offense would answer once again, however, as they so often did during the regular season.

Kevin Pillar plated Russell Martin with an RBI double in the bottom of the fifth off Rangers starting pitcher Yovani Gallardo. Reliever Keone Kela replaced Gallardo in the sixth and promptly served up a solo shot to Jose Bautista, bringing the Jays back to within one run.

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That would be the last piece of damage inflicted by the Toronto bats on the afternoon, though. Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor responded with a solo homer of his own in the seventh inning, resulting in a 5-3 score that would hold up through the end of the game.

The biggest story out of this Game 1 clash, however, will be the flurry of injuries to several of the most prominent players on the field.

The Rangers’ Adrian Beltre exited with back stiffness in the third inning. Blue Jays third baseman and MVP candidate Josh Donaldson tried to break up a double play in the bottom of the fifth but was struck in the head by Rougned Odor’s knee as he attempted to avoid the slide. He too left the game as a precautionary measure.

To complete the superstar exodus, Jose Bautista departed prior to the start of the ninth inning due to calf tightness.

FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reports that Donaldson passed concussion tests, while Bautista’s injury is also described as mild. Both are expected to be ready for tomorrow’s Game 2.

Beltre’s situation sounds a bit more serious. According to Rosenthal, the four-time All-Star will have an MRI to determine the severity of his back issue. He appeared in considerable pain at the time of his removal. The Rangers will hope that he can return quickly. Beltre was one of Texas’ hottest hitters down the stretch (he hit .344 and drove in 38 runs in September/October) and losing his bat and glove would be a significant blow in the postseason.

The Blue Jays will attempt to get back on even terms tomorrow in ALDS Game 2. They are scheduled to send Marcus Stroman to the mound opposite Rangers starter Cole Hamels.

Next: Arrieta steers Cubs to NLDS

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