Tallet throws 7 shutout innings, Lind homers to lead Blue Jays past Rangers 9-0

Tallet, Lind lead Blue Jays past Rangers

ARLINGTON, Texas — Brian Tallet and two relievers combined for a two-hitter, Adam Lind homered and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Texas Rangers 9-0 Tuesday night.

Tallet (4-3) went seven innings to match the longest start of his career. The lefty walked two, struck out three and retired the last eight batters he faced to win for the second time in three starts. Dirk Hayhurst and B.J. Ryan each pitched a scoreless inning of relief.

Lind, who hit two homers and drove in four runs in Toronto’s 6-3 victory Monday, had a solo shot in the fifth. He is 20 for 45 his last 11 games.

Aaron Hill hit a two-run homer in the eighth, and Scott Rolen went 3 for 4.

The Blue Jays, who lost a nine a row on the road coming into the series, posted their fifth shutout of the season.

Doug Mathis (0-1) gave up five runs and seven hits over five innings in his first start of the season. The right-hander replaced Brandon McCarthy, who was placed on the disabled list Tuesday with a stress fracture in his right shoulder blade.

The first-place Rangers were shut out for the third time this season and lost its third in a row at home for the first time this season. Boston’s Jon Lester threw a two-hitter against Texas on Saturday, and the Rangers were held to one hit by Detroit on May 19.

Tallet allowed a double to Brandon Boggs in the second and single to Chris Davis in the fourth. Toronto pitchers retired the last 14 Rangers hitters.

Vernon Wells led off the second with a triple over center fielder Marlon Byrd’s head and scored on Lind’s ground out.

After consecutive walks, Kevin Millar had an RBI single to make it 2-0.

Marco Scutaro capped the scoring in the second with a bases-loaded single that brought in two runs and stretched Toronto’s lead to 4-0.

Lind hit a one-out home run in the fifth off Mathis, who made his fifth career start, that barely cleared the 14-foot fence in left field. It was his fifth homer in five games.

In the seventh, Rolen doubled in Wells to make it 6-0 and came around to score on Lyle Overbay’s single.

Overbay has a 15-game hitting streak, the longest active streak in the majors.>