The postseason struggles for Toronto ace David Price continued Thursday as the Blue Jays fell in Game 1 of the American League Division Series at Rogers Centre.
Entering with a 4.50 ERA in 10 career postseason appearances, the Cy Young Award candidate allowed five runs on five hits with two walks over seven innings. He joined Randy Johnson as the only pitchers in MLB history to lose six straight postseason starts.
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Score: 5-3, Rangers
Takeaway: While starter Yovani Gallardo and the Rangers relievers were solid, the Blue Jays had their chances to tie or take the lead but went 2 for 9 with runners in scoring position.
Hero: Rougned Odor. The Rangers second baseman became just the fourth player in postseason history with two hit by pitches and a home run in the same game. The 21-year-old also became the second-youngest player to score three runs in a playoff game.
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Turning point: After Jose Bautista cut the Rangers' lead to 4-3 with a solo homer off Texas reliever Keone Kela in the sixth, Odor connected on solo homer of his own in the seventh to restore Texas' two-run cushion. Rangers relievers then retired nine straight Jays batters before allowing a single to Edwin Encarnacion in the ninth.
Key injuries: Rangers All-Star third baseman Adrian Beltre exited after painfully leaving the batter's box on an RBI single in the third. The Rangers announced the injury was lower back stiffness, but Beltre was in visible pain, crying as trainers helped him off the field.
Blue Jays third baseman and AL MVP favorite Josh Donaldson also left the game with an injury. He took a knee to the head on a takeout slide at second base. Donaldson passed concussion tests and is expected to be fine, Fox Sports reported.
Bautista exited with right hamstring tightness late in the game, but is expected to be in the lineup on Friday.
What’s next: Cole Hamels (7-1, 3.66 ERA with Texas) will toe the rubber in Game 2 on Friday as he looks for his first career win against the Jays. Hamels has faced Toronto four times in his career, going 0-2 with a 6.97 ERA. Marcus Stroman (4-0, 1.67 ERA) will take the ball for the Jays. First pitch is scheduled for 12:45 p.m. ET.