TORONTO (AP) — Nathan Eovaldi struck out nine in seven shutout innings to win his third straight start, Justin Foscue homered and drove in three runs, and the Texas Rangers held on to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 on Friday night.
Jacob Latz pitched the ninth for his 16th save in 18 chances as Texas survived a late Toronto rally to win for the fifth time in eight games.
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Texas Rangers' Brandon Nimmo gestures to the dugout after hitting an RBI double against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Friday June 26, 2026. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
Texas Rangers starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi winds up to deliver to a Toronto Blue Jays batter during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Friday June 26, 2026. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
Texas Rangers Wyatt Langford (36) is tagged out at second base by Toronto Blue Jays infielder Andres Gimenez (0) during the second inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Friday June 26, 2026. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
Texas Rangers starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi (17) throws to a Toronto Blue Jays batter during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Friday June 26, 2026. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
Texas Rangers designated hitter Justin Foscue hits an RBI single against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Friday June 26, 2026. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
Eovaldi (8-7) walked Daulton Varsho in the second and didn’t allow a hit until Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singled in the fourth. Eovaldi allowed five hits.
The Rangers led 5-0 after seven, but after Robby Ahlstrom retired one of the three batters he faced in the eighth, Jakob Junis came on and gave up Guerrero’s two-run single that made it 5-2. Kazuma Okamoto followed with a two-run homer to make it 5-4.
The Rangers opened the scoring before Blue Jays left-hander Patrick Corbin recorded an out. Wyatt Langford singled and stole second, Josh Jung was hit by a pitch and Brandon Nimmo followed with an RBI double.
Foscue and Ezequiel Duran added RBI singles in the first.
Foscue drove in Jake Burger with a one-out homer in the third.
Corbin (2-4) allowed five runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings, extending his winless streak to six starts.
Duran stole second on a pitchout in the sixth, pulling his hand back to evade Ernie Clement’s tag attempt, then reaching over Clement to touch the base.
Rangers shortstop Corey Seager got the day off after returning from the concussion list Thursday. He’s expected to start Saturday.
Toronto outfielder Jesús Sánchez was shaken up when he crashed into the wall after catching Nimmo’s drive to end the seventh. Davis Schneider pinch hit in the bottom half.
Blue Jays RHP Dylan Cease (4-3, 2.75 ERA) is scheduled to start on Saturday against Rangers RHP Cal Quantrill (3-0, 3.73).
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Texas Rangers' Brandon Nimmo gestures to the dugout after hitting an RBI double against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Friday June 26, 2026. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
Texas Rangers starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi winds up to deliver to a Toronto Blue Jays batter during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Friday June 26, 2026. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
Texas Rangers Wyatt Langford (36) is tagged out at second base by Toronto Blue Jays infielder Andres Gimenez (0) during the second inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Friday June 26, 2026. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
Texas Rangers starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi (17) throws to a Toronto Blue Jays batter during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Friday June 26, 2026. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
Texas Rangers designated hitter Justin Foscue hits an RBI single against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Friday June 26, 2026. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
GUADALAJARA, Mexico (AP) — Spain defeated Uruguay 1-0 after another goalkeeping mistake by Fernando Muslera to advance to the knockout stage of the World Cup and eliminate the South American powerhouse on Friday.
Uruguay, a two-time champion, will go home without any victories in its three Group H games. Spain, the European champion, won the group with seven points and will face the second-place team from Group J — either Austria or Algeria — on Thursday in Inglewood, California.
Álex Baena scored in the 42nd minute after Muslera couldn’t fully swat away his shot from inside the area. It was the third blunder of the tournament by the 40-year-old Muslera, who asked coach Marcelo Bielsa to substitute him at halftime.
“He is the one who decided to leave,” Bielsa said.
The veteran Argentine coach said he feels like Uruguay deserved better luck considering its performances, and should have earned seven points instead of two from its group matches. But he took full responsibility for the team's failure.
“No one wants to listen to explanations now,” Bielsa said. “The blame is on me, I’m the one responsible for the disappointing work that I did. I had a group of quality players.”
At 19th in the FIFA rankings, Uruguay is the highest-ranked team to be eliminated so far.
Cape Verde, which played Saudi Arabia to a 0-0 draw in the other group game on Friday, finished second in the group with three points, one more than both Uruguay and Saudi Arabia. Uruguay finished third but without enough points to be among the best eight third-place teams that will advance.
A few Uruguay players cried on the field after the final whistle. Many fans booed the team as it left.
The match was one of the most anticipated of the group stage, but it featured few significant scoring chances by either team.
“I'm very proud of all the work that we have done,” Baena said. “We competed very well.”
Uruguay players loudly advocated for a penalty in the final minutes after Federico Viñas went down inside the area.
There was some tension near the end. Uruguay’s Agustín Canobbio was sent off in stoppage time for a tackle on Spain defender Paul Cubarsi. His teammates had to escort him off the field, and after the final whistle he returned to try to talk to the referee.
Uruguay, the World Cup winner in 1930 and 1950, came into the final group match in turmoil after draws against Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde. Uruguayan media said there were reports of players not being happy with Bielsa.
Spain, seeking its second World Cup title, opened with a shocking 0-0 draw against Cape Verde but was coming off a 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia. La Roja haven’t made it past the round of 16 since winning their lone title in 2010.
Spain striker Lamine Yamal, who entered the tournament nursing a left hamstring injury, had a lackluster outing and again didn’t play the entire match, being replaced by Ferran Torres in the 76th minute. The 18-year-old Yamal was replaced at halftime against Saudi Arabia and came off the bench in the second half against Cape Verde.
Uruguay midfielder Manuel Ugarte had to replaced because of an apparent knee injury near the end of the first half. He was on the ground seeking medical assistance when Spain opened the scoring, and was eventually taken off the field on a stretcher.
King Felipe VI of Spain was among the crowd of 45,065 at Estadio Akron.
A moment of silence was observed before the match in memory of those who died when back-to-back earthquakes struck Venezuela late Wednesday.
AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
Spain's Pedri, top, and Uruguay's Sebastian Caceres vie for the ball during the World Cup Group H soccer match between Uruguay and Spain in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Spain's Aymeric Laporte (14) battles for the ball with Uruguay's Darwin Nunez (9) during the World Cup Group H soccer match between Uruguay and Spain in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Spain's Lamine Yamal (19) controls the ball against Uruguay's Mathias Olivera (16), Rodrigo Bentancur (6) and Manuel Ugarte (5) during the World Cup Group H soccer match between Uruguay and Spain in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera (23) is beaten by a shot from Spain's Alex Baena (15) for the opining goal during the World Cup Group H soccer match between Uruguay and Spain in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko )
Spain's Alex Baena, left, is congratulated after scoring his side's opening goal by Rodri during the World Cup Group H soccer match between Uruguay and Spain in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
