Texas hadn't lost in this fashion in 27 years

ARLINGTON -- The Rangers were shut out for the first time this season Friday night. They just didn’t anticipate the first one to come at Globe Life Park, where they were averaging 6.3 runs per game, and they certainly didn’t expect to get shut out in an extra-inning game at home for the first time in 27 years.

“It’s a crazy game,” Rangers manager Chris Woodward said. “You have this offense that scores and scores and scores, your pitchers have a shutout through 11 and then …”

And then an unearned run off a throwing error by reliever Ariel Jurado proved to be the difference and the Blue Jays held on to a 1-0 victory in 12 innings. The Rangers have lost three straight and eight of their last 10.

• Box score

The last time that the Rangers lost an extra-inning game at home by shutout was Sept. 22, 1992, against the Twins. That was a 1-0 loss in 13 innings.

The Rangers lost on a night when Mike Minor threw eight scoreless innings, giving him a 1.43 ERA in his last six starts. But Blue Jays rookie starter Trent Thornton, who was 0-3 with a 5.08 ERA over six starts entering the night, held the Rangers scoreless on just one hit through seven innings. This one ended in a battle of bullpens, with late-night rain coming down in Arlington.

“Mike threw a great game,” outfielder Nomar Mazara said. “It stinks that he didn’t win that game. We should have won that game, but we couldn’t score any runs.”

Brandon Drury started the Blue Jays’ 12th with a single to center off of Jurado, the fourth Rangers reliever used after Minor. Teoscar Hernandez, after fouling off four full-count pitches, smacked a single up the middle to move Drury to second.

Danny Jansen, in his first plate appearance of the night, dropped down a bunt. Jurado had a play at third, but threw wildly past Asdrubal Cabrera and the ball ended up in the stands. One run scored and the Blue Jays were left with runners at second and third base.

“I don’t think [Jurado] moved too fast,” Woodward said. “It’s the elements. It’s wet out there. It’s hard to grip the baseball. That ball caught a lot of grass. He had to get rid of it quick to get the guy at third. When you have pressure in that situation, and the elements the way they were, it’s hard to make plays.”

Jurado stranded the remaining runners, keeping it a one-run game. But Blue Jays closer Ken Giles struck out the side in the bottom of the 12th to close it out.

The Rangers had plenty of chances before that and couldn’t get it done. They were 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position on the night and those at-bats all came in the eighth inning or later.

The Rangers couldn’t score in the 10th after Elvis Andrus led off with a double and moved to third on Mazara’s long fly to right. Blue Jays reliever Ryan Tepera struck out Cabrera and retired Isiah Kiner-Falefa to end the threat.

Cabrera entered the game 6-for-19 with runners in scoring position this season, including 10 RBIs. His 18 RBIs at home are tied for the second-most in the American League.

“Obviously he was in a good spot with the winning run at third base,” Woodward said. “Cabby is one of those guys who is very dependable. It happens. Baseball is a tough game. He has been one of our best hitters in those situations. It was our best opportunity at that point.”

The Rangers also had runners at second and third with two outs in the 11th, but Mazara lined out hard to left.

“I felt great, just no luck,” Mazara said. “There is nothing else I can do. I was hitting the ball hard right at people.”

Gallo’s great throw

The Blue Jays mounted a threat against Minor in the eighth when Freddy Galvis doubled to left with two outs. Randal Grichuk then smashed a line drive single to left directly at Joey Gallo on one hop. Blue Jays third-base coach Luis Rivera sent home Galvis, but Gallo threw him out with a strong throw to the plate.

Gallo’s throw was clocked at 97.3 mph and was the fourth-hardest outfield assist in the Majors this season, according to Statcast. His personal best was 100.4 mph last season.