(Toronto) Corey Seager drove in three runs and the Texas Rangers prevailed 9-2 in Toronto on Thursday, dealing another blow to the Blue Jays, who are struggling to stay in playoff contention.

Seager hit a home run on the fourth shot of the game. He also hit a two-run double in the second inning.

The Jays have slipped a little further out of the portrait of the three clubs reaching the playoffs without a section title, in the American.

“We’re as upset as anyone,” Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman said. We are frustrated. We are all competitors and we don’t like what happened in this series. »

There we find in order Tampa Bay, Texas and Seattle, with the Mariners a game and a half ahead of the Toronto club.

Jonah Heim hit a solo home run, helping the Rangers win a sixth straight game.

Marcus Semien hit a run-scoring double, Nathaniel Lowe scored two runners with a single and Josh Smith got a sacrifice fly.

The winners’ last five points were scored in the eighth inning.

Cody Bradford (4-1) was responsible for eight outs, following a three and a third inning outing from Nathan Eovaldi.

Vladimir Guerrero homered in a losing cause. Bo Bichette stopped an 0-for-15 drought with a single in the first inning.

In four and two-thirds innings, Gausman (11-9) gave up four runs, six hits and six walks.

“Today it’s all my fault,” Gausman said. Showing up and giving the lead (on the Seager circuit), and then giving it back (on the Seager double) after the Vladdy circuit, it’s simply unacceptable. Everything that followed in this match was my fault. »

Matt Chapman was 0 for 3, returning to the Blue Jays’ active roster.

Chapman had been sidelined since Aug. 28 with a strained right middle finger.

The third baseman is hitting .247 this year, with 15 homers and 50 RBIs.

Chapman is fifth in major league baseball with 36 doubles.

He also won a Gold Glove in 2018, 2019 and 2021.

The game took place in front of 37,594 people at the Rogers Centre.

The Boston Red Sox will be in Toronto from Friday to Sunday.

The starting pitchers in the first game will be Brayan Bello and José Berríos.