Major League Baseball

Boyd gives up 3 HRs in debut, Rangers beat Jays 4-0

Published Jun. 27, 2015 6:15 p.m. ET

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TORONTO (AP) Matt Boyd had no problem with nerves in his big league debut.

Pitch location, however, was more of a challenge.

Boyd allowed three solo home runs in his first career start, Yovani Gallardo shut down Toronto's potent offense and the Texas Rangers snapped a season-worst six-game skid with a 4-0 victory over the Blue Jays on Saturday.

Promoted from, Triple-A Buffalo to make his major league debut, the left-handed Boyd (0-1) allowed four runs and nine hits, including three homers, in 6 2-3 innings.

''I wasn't nervous, I was excited,'' Boyd said. ''It's definitely something to build on.''

Mitch Moreland, Robinson Chirinos and Rougned Odor all hit solo home runs for the Rangers, who won for the first time since beating the White Sox on June 19.

Boyd walked none and matched a Blue Jays record for debut starters by striking out seven. However, he also matched the club record for homers allowed in a debut start.

''When I got hurt it was when the ball was up and when I was behind in the count,'' Boyd said.

Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said Boyd will likely get another start in place of Aaron Sanchez, who hasn't pitched since June 5 because of a strained muscle in his back.

''You never to know what to expect when somebody's making their debut, but he's a confident guy,'' Gibbons said of Boyd.

Gallardo extended his scoreless streak to a career-high 23 innings by pitching three-hit ball into the ninth as the Rangers became just the second team to blank the Blue Jays this season.

Toronto came in having scored a major league-high 417 runs but couldn't get anything going against Gallardo.

Jose Bautista drew a two out walk in the first but was left stranded. Toronto didn't get its first hit until Edwin Encarnacion's two-out single in the fourth. Dioner Navarro followed with a strikeout, the first of 10 consecutive outs. The streak ended when Russell Martin drew a leadoff walk in the eighth, but Chris Colabello grounded into a double play on Gallardo's next pitch.

''He was picking us apart pretty good,'' Gibbons said.

Gallardo (7-6) fell two-outs shy of his first shutout and first complete game since a 1-0 win over Atlanta while pitching for Milwaukee on April 5, 2011.

''Just a masterful job by Yovani today,'' Rangers manager Jeff Banister said.

Gallardo left after Josh Donaldson's one-out single in the ninth. Shawn Tolleson came on and got Bautista to ground into a game-ending double play.

Gallardo improved to 2-0 with a 0.54 ERA in five June starts. He hasn't last allowed a run since the eighth inning of a June 10 outing at Oakland, four starts ago. It's the longest scoreless streak by a Rangers pitcher since Martin Perez worked 26 scoreless innings in April, 2014.

SANTANA ABANDONS COMEBACK

Two-time Cy Young award winner Johan Santana has abandoned his comeback bid with the Blue Jays. Santana signed a minor league deal with Toronto in February but never appeared in a game at any level. Santana last pitched in the majors in 2012

PRINCE OF HITS

Prince Fielder singled in his first two at bats for his ML-leading 32nd multihit game.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Blue Jays: Sanchez is scheduled to throw bullpen sessions next Wednesday and Saturday at Toronto's spring training facility in Dunedin, Florida, Gibbons said. It will be the first time Sanchez has thrown from a mound since June 5. Sanchez (5-4, 3.55) is expected back by mid-July.

UP NEXT

Rangers: RHP Chi Chi Gonzalez (2-2, 2.27 ERA) is winless in his past three starts after winning the first two outings of his career. Gonzalez has a 0.56 ERA in two road starts.

Blue Jays: RHP Drew Hutchison (7-1, 5.33) seeks to win his fourth straight decision. He's 5-1 with a 2.38 ERA in seven home starts.

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