TORONTO (AP) — Texas Rangers right-hander Jon Gray left Sunday’s start against Toronto without throwing a pitch after feeling discomfort in his right groin while warming up for the bottom of the first inning.
Gray was on the 15-day injured list from May 22 until June 7 because of a mild right groin strain.
The Rangers, who got just two outs from starter Michael Lorenzen in Saturday’s 7-3 loss, brought in right-hander Jonathan Hernández to pitch in Gray’s place. Hernández allowed a two-run home run to Daulton Varsho in the first and gave up five runs in 2 1/3 innings before being replaced by lefty Jacob Latz.
Texas entered play Sunday having lost two straight after winning the previous five.
Gray came in 5-4 with a 3.73 ERA in 20 games. He’d gone 2-0 with a 3.57 ERA in four July appearances, three of them starts. The 10-year veteran is in his third season with the Rangers. He left Colorado to sign a four-year contract with Texas following the 2021 season.
Texas got 4 1/3 innings from right-hander José Ureña and three from righty Dane Dunning on Saturday, meaning neither is likely available out of the bullpen Sunday. That left five other active relievers besides Hernández.
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
