Playoff hopeful Blue Jays avoid series sweep with 7-2 win over AL West-leading Texas

Toronto's Brett Bateman delivered a standout performance, reaching base and scoring three times as the Blue Jays defeated the AL West-leading Texas Rangers 7-2 on Sunday, thwarting a series sweep in a playoff hopeful matchup. Bateman, who walked twice against Texas starter Jacob deGrom, was instrumental in the go-ahead RBI single in the fifth and a four-run seventh fueled by a sacrifice fly by Lukes and a leadoff double.

With six games remaining, the Rangers maintained a one-game lead in the AL West following Houston's loss to Atlanta. The Rangers (78-78) held onto their edge after Houston's 4-2 defeat at home to Atlanta. Texas' division tiebreaker was secured by the Astros. Toronto (77-79) matched the Astros' record, sitting 2 1/2 games behind the third and final wild card-holding Chicago White Sox.

DeGrom, nursing mild groin tightness, exited with bases loaded in the fifth and the Rangers trailing 3-2. Lefty reliever Robert Garcia sealed the game with an inning-ending double-play groundout on his first pitch. DeGrom struck out five, his season total now at 196, falling shy of his fifth career 200-strikeout season.