The Toronto Blue Jays returned Bo Bichette to their lineup on Tuesday after a long stay in the infirmary, when they lost 13-8, without putting up a good fight against the Texas Rangers.
Trailing 7-3, the Jays had a four-run fifth inning, largely thanks to Davis Schneider’s third home run in as many games, which tied the score at that point.
The Rangers, however, scored the next five runs, including three to allow themselves a run in the bottom of the eighth inning, to pull out the win.
Texas thus raised its record to 72-79, which is the same as the Jays. Both teams will not be in the playoff picture this fall.
Bichette was second in the Toronto batting order, and he put the ball safely twice in five appearances, scoring one run.
Wyatt Langford hit a homer and two doubles, while Jonah Heim had a two-run single to break the tie.
Leody Taveras also hit a long ball and totaled three hits in the win.
Heim had just one hit in his 34 official appearances in the batter’s box in September before lining the ball to right field at the expense of Tommy Nance (0-2). Adolis Garcia and Nathaniel Lowe scored to give the Rangers a 9-7 lead.
Heim was batting .212 and driving in 53 runs before this appearance, after being invited to the All-Star game last season and contributing 95 runs. He added a double in the eighth.
Matt Festa (5-1) pitched one inning and a third without giving up a run to get the win. He is 5-0 with the Rangers.
Nathan Eovaldi, who was at the heart of the Rangers’ World Series victory last year, had his worst game of the season. The pitcher, who can become a free agent at the end of the season, gave up 11 hits and seven runs.
Six of the seven runs allowed by Blue Jays starter Chris Bassitt were unearned, as he worked on the mound for three and two-thirds innings.
Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a double and two singles.
Wagner and Varsho on injured reserve
For his part, infielder Will Wagner will miss the rest of the season and outfielder Daulton Varsho has been placed on the injured list.
Bichette, 26, missed two months of action with a calf injury. A two-time All-Star, he batted .286 and drove in two runs during a four-game fitness stint with the AAA Buffalo Bisons.
Wagner was placed on the 60-day disabled list with a left knee injury. He missed the Blue Jays’ last two games against the St. Louis Cardinals. Louis Cardinals.
Wagner, who had eight hits in his first four major league games after his Aug. 12 debut, has a .305 average with two homers and 11 RBIs this year.
Varsho’s name was placed on the 10-day injured list and the decision is retroactive to Saturday. He batted .214, hit 18 home runs and scored 58 runs since the start of the campaign.