Nelson Cruz Drives In 8 Runs – Rangers Pound Blue Jays

Josh Hamilton hit his 19th home run of the season for the Texas Rangers and was not the story in the 14 -3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays.

Nelson Cruz hit a grand slam and drove in eight runs for the second time in his career and the Rangers chased Toronto starter Brandon Morrow after 2/3rds of an inning. Cruz was 4-5 on the night and also scored two runs. Cruz’s grand slam came in the seventh inning and gave Texas a 14-1 lead. He also had a three-run double in the first and an RBI single in the sixth.

The Rangers pounded out 18 hits in the game. Five of the Rangers nine starters had multiple hits and every player in the Texas lineup reached base. Edwin Encarnacion hit his 15th home run of the season for the Blue Jays, who have lost three in a row.

Morrow who had pitched a three-hit shutout in his previous start gave up six runs in the first inning. Morrow threw 44 pitches in the first inning and faced 10 batters before he was relieved by Carlos Villanueva. Rangers starter Derek Holland held the Blue Jays to two runs over 7 1/3 innings. The two teams resume their series on Saturday.