Almost 45, Colon pitches Rangers over Blue Jays

Whatever is written across the jersey Bartolo Colon wears, it always comes with the same letter: W.

Less than a month shy of his 45th birthday, Colon pitched seven efficient innings to earn his first win with Texas, helping the Rangers beat the Blue Jays 7-4 Saturday in Toronto.

Colon (1-0) has posted victories with 11 different teams in the majors, including the Montreal Expos. He is the fourth pitcher to win with 11 clubs, joining LaTroy Hawkins, Mike Morgan and Ron Villone. No one won with more.

“It’s incredible what he’s been able to accomplish in his 40 years pitching in the big leagues,” teammate Delino DeShields joked.

This was his 241st career victory — two short of tying Juan Marichal’s mark for pitchers born in the Dominican Republic, and four from tying the record held by Dennis Martinez for most among Latin-born players.

“If I keep passing guys, that’s good,” Colon said through a translator.

RAYS 12, RED SOX 6 >> Wilson Ramos went deep again and scored on Denard Span’s insidethe-park homer, helping visiting Tampa Bay beat Boston for its eighth consecutive victory. It’s the longest win streak for Tampa Bay since taking nine in a row in July 2014. DIAMONDBACKS 4, NATIONALS 3 (10 INNINGS) >> David Peralta homered twice for visiting Arizona, and Nick Ahmed scored the winning run on a basesloaded walk in the 10th inning. The NL West-leading Diamondbacks became the first NL team since the 1907 Cubs to win nine straight series to start a season. BRAVES 4, PHILLIES 1 >> Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera reached way into the bushes beyond the wall to make a sensational catch that robbed Freddie Freeman of a home run, but visiting Atlanta went on to win.