Rangers add to Stroman’s struggles
TORONTO — Marcus Stroman was ready to put Friday night’s game behind him as soon as it was over.
He could say the same for much of the first month of his season. The Blue Jays right-hander struggled again on the mound, allowing six runs — including four in the first inning — in a 6-4 loss to the Texas Rangers.
“I just need to be better overall. That’s not me,” said Stroman. “I can’t spot them four runs in the first. That’s very uncharacteristic of me . ... I just gotta be better. And I will be.
“That’s it. Looking forward to May. I’m putting April behind me.”
Ronald Guzman hit a tie-breaking two-run single off Stroman in the sixth inning and the Rangers held on to hand Toronto its first threegame loss of the season.
Joey Gallo hit a two-run homer and Nomar Mazara drove in a pair of runs as Texas (10-17) built up a 4-0 advantage in the first inning.
Stroman (0-3), pitching in his 100th career game, rebounded from the rough start to retire 12 of the next 14 batters he faced before running into trouble again in the sixth.
The right-hander allowed back-to-back singles to open the inning, and Guzman’s one-out base hit cashed in both runners to end Stroman’s night after 5 1⁄3 innings, inflating his earned-run average to 8.88. Stroman allowed all six runs over eight hits while walking one and striking out four.