The Texas Rangers stormed back into the win column on Sunday, August 17, 2025, delivering a powerful 10-4 victory over the first-place Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. After a frustrating four-game losing streak that left both fans and the clubhouse reeling, the Rangers’ stars rose to the occasion, showcasing the kind of performance that many believe could be their blueprint for renewed contention as the season barrels toward its final stretch.
Marcus Semien, returning to the lineup after sitting out Saturday’s game with a sore right wrist, wasted no time reminding everyone of his resilience and value. The veteran second baseman, who has missed just five games in four seasons with Texas, hammered a two-run homer off José Berríos in the second inning—his 15th of the season—and finished with three hits and two runs scored. His early blast staked Texas to a 2-0 lead and set the tone for a lineup that has struggled for consistency in recent weeks.
“I’m definitely not 100% but that’s why I play through stuff,” Semien told reporters after the game. “Sometimes you can do stuff when you’re not feeling your best.” His grit didn’t go unnoticed in the clubhouse. Rangers manager Bruce Bochy lauded his toughness, saying, “He’s got to be, I’d say, one of the toughest—if not the toughest player—I’ve ever had.” Shortstop Corey Seager echoed the sentiment, adding, “It’s exactly what this team needs. To watch a guy of his stature and what he’s about, to take a ball on his hand and go out and perform, it’s something guys can definitely look up to.”
Semien wasn’t the only star to break out of a slump. Corey Seager, who entered the game mired in a multiweek offensive drought, delivered two extra-base hits, including a solo home run in the fifth inning that chased Berríos from the game. The 94.9-mph shot was Seager’s 18th homer of the season and, by some measures, the slowest he’s hit in his four years with the Rangers. Seager also led off the ninth with a 105.0 mph double, later scoring on Evan Carter’s two-run homer that put the game out of reach for Toronto.
“Both those guys led by example today, right?” said starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi, referencing the Rangers’ high-priced middle infield. “They’re the guys you lean on. For you to have success, they have to have success. As they go, we go. No doubt, from here on out, we’re going to need them doing their thing.”
The Rangers’ offense, dormant for much of August, erupted for five home runs on the day. Wyatt Langford launched a two-run shot in the sixth inning—his 17th of the year—clocked at a blistering 111.0 mph off the bat. Evan Carter capped the scoring with his fifth home run of the season in the ninth, a 100.1 mph laser that gave Texas double-digit runs. Corey Seager and Marcus Semien each contributed home runs over 100 mph, while the supporting cast chipped in with timely hits, including a three-run, five-hit outburst in the fourth inning, all coming with two outs and most on two-strike counts.
On the mound, Nathan Eovaldi delivered exactly the kind of start the Rangers desperately needed. After his worst outing of the season six days prior, Eovaldi bounced back with seven innings of two-run ball, allowing just five hits (two of them solo home runs by Alejandro Kirk and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.), no walks, and six strikeouts. His fastball topped out at 95.6 mph and averaged 94.2 mph, while his command and poise helped Texas avoid another bullpen meltdown. Eovaldi has now won seven straight decisions and hasn’t dropped a game since May 22 against the Yankees. His season ERA sits at a sparkling 1.76 over 123 innings, and with two more starts, he’s poised to qualify for the American League ERA title.
“He went out, set the tone and threw a really good game. It’s exactly what we need in this moment,” Seager said of Eovaldi’s performance. “Obviously we’ve been struggling this last week and it’s not where we want to be, but to have a guy go out like that and stop the bleeding and put on a show or a performance like that, that’s exactly what this team needs.”
Shawn Armstrong stepped in to record the final four outs, securing his fourth save in seven chances, after a rocky eighth inning that saw George Springer launch a two-run homer off Hoby Milner. The Blue Jays, who managed just four runs on the day, had little answer for Eovaldi’s precision and the Rangers’ offensive onslaught. Berríos, Toronto’s starter, suffered his fifth loss of the season, surrendering a season-high 10 hits and matching his season-worst with six runs allowed in just 4 1/3 innings.
While the Rangers’ win was a much-needed morale boost, it also served as a reminder of what could have been this season. Texas improved to 62-63, just one game under .500, and pulled within 7.5 games of the AL West-leading Houston Astros. In the wild card race, they remain 5.5 games out of the final spot, with crucial series looming against both the Kansas City Royals and Cleveland Guardians—teams directly ahead of them in the standings.
In a season where injuries and inconsistency have plagued the roster—Jake Burger exited Sunday’s game after six innings with a sore left wrist, joining a lengthy injury report that includes Joc Pederson, Jon Gray, Adolis Garcia, and others—the Rangers must rely on performances like Sunday’s from their core players if they hope to claw back into postseason contention. The offense may not have lived up to its preseason billing, but when the stars align, as they did against Toronto, Texas still looks every bit the dangerous team that stormed through last year’s playoffs.
Looking ahead, the Rangers will open a crucial four-game set in Kansas City on Monday, August 18, with promising right-hander Jack Leiter (7-6, 3.94 ERA) scheduled to face Royals veteran Michael Wacha (7-9, 3.35 ERA). The Royals, currently third in the AL Central at 63-61, boast the fourth-best team ERA in baseball and have been hot of late, going 7-3 in their last 10 games. Texas, meanwhile, will look to build on the momentum of Sunday’s win, hoping their stars can continue to shine as the postseason picture comes into sharper focus.
The Blue Jays, now set for a road trip to Pittsburgh, will send Kevin Gausman to the mound against rookie sensation Paul Skenes as they look to regroup after dropping the series finale. For the Rangers, Sunday’s victory was more than just a win—it was a statement that, with their leaders healthy and producing, the door to October baseball remains ever so slightly ajar.
