Taiwanese hurler Wang Chien-ming (王建民), signed by the Toronto Blue Jays this month to bolster a banged-up pitching staff, picked up his first Major League Baseball win in more than a year on Sunday.
Wang gave up seven hits in seven scoreless innings, struck out five and walked two. He was backed by three home runs in a 7-2 victory that completed the Blue Jays’ four-game series sweep of the Rangers.
Adam Lind hit a three-run homer, J.P. Arencibia added a two-run shot and Colby Rasmus also went deep for Toronto, who have won five straight. The Rangers have lost six straight for the first time since April 2010.
In his second start of the year, Wang stranded a runner in scoring position in the second, fourth, fifth and seventh innings.
“He has given us a big boost and he’s pitching great,” Jays manager John Gibbons said of Wang, who saw his last majors win in June last year. “This is his opportunity and he’s taking advantage of it.”
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