Aranda and Palacios homer as Rays overcome first Rangers grand slam of season in 7-6 win

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Jonathan Aranda and Richie Palacios homered, and the Tampa Bay Rays overcame the first grand slam of the season by Texas in a 7-6 victory Friday night, ending a 10-game road losing streak against the Rangers.

Elias Díaz, who had five RBIs, hit his fourth career slam to get Texas within a run in the seventh inning, but the Rangers matched their biggest AL West deficit of the season at three games. Division-leading Houston beat Arizona 3-1.

Nick Martinez exited with one out and two on in the seventh with the AL East-leading Rays up 6-1, but Garrett Cleavinger walked Cody Freeman before Díaz lined a 1-2 slider just over the fence in left field.

Cleavinger was replaced after Justin Foscue singled, and Cam Booser got Corey Seager to ground into an inning-ending double play.

Kevin Kelly pitched a perfect eighth and Tyler Wells finished for his sixth save after major league saves leader Bryan Baker exited with what the right-hander believed was dehydration after issuing two walks to start the ninth.

Díaz's sacrifice fly against Wells trimmed the deficit to one again and put the potential tying run at third with two outs, but Foscue popped out.

Martinez (14-4), who tied Saturday starter Drew Rasmussen for the team lead in wins, allowed five hits and three runs in 6 1/3 innings.

The right-hander was making his first appearance as an opponent at Texas, where his big league career started 12 years ago before a four-year stint in Japan.

Kumar Rocker (5-11) followed two opening relievers for Texas and gave up solo homers to Aranda in the third and Palacios in the fourth before the right-hander allowed five hits in a four-run Tampa Bay fifth.

Yandy Díaz, Aranda and Junior Caminero opened with three consecutive doubles, and Victor Mesa Jr. and Chandler Simpson added RBI singles. Yandy Díaz had three hits, and Aranda and Caminero drove in two runs apiece.

Rasmussen (14-5, 2.95 ERA) is set to face Rangers RHP Jacob deGrom (10-9, 4.00).

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Texas Rangers' Corey Seager follows through on a single during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Nick Martinez, left, bumps fist with catcher Liam Hicks, right rear, as manager Kevin Cash, right front, walks out to make a pitching change during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Texas Rangers' Jake Burger, left rear, Evan Carter and Cody Freeman, right rear, celebrate as Elias Díaz (35) approaches the plate after hitting a grand slam that scored the trio during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Tampa Bay Rays' Richie Palacios celebrates his solo home run with the team during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Toronto Blue Jays starter Jameson Taillon left Friday night's game against Kansas City after two innings due to right elbow discomfort.

Taillon was making his first appearance since Aug. 10, when he was placed on the injured list with right forearm tendinitis. The 34-year-old right-hander allowed one run on two hits in two innings before leaving.

Toronto manager John Schneider said that Taillon is likely headed back to the IL.

“Probably,” the manager said after the Blue Jays beat the Royals 9-2. "Just based on what he just went through and coming out of the game in the second. But I don’t want to make it a slam dunk right now.”

Schneider said this instance was slightly different from the injury that put Taillon on the shelf earlier this summer.

“He kind of felt it in the second inning a little bit,” Schneider said. “He’s going to get an MRI tonight to look at that. We’ll see what it shows

“But I just I feel for him right now after battling his way back. He said he warmed up fine and was making progress. So, hopefully it’s something minimal, and we kind of can go from there. But we’ll know more tomorrow.”

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Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Jameson Taillon throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Jameson Taillon throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)