The Toronto Blue Jays couldn’t beat the punches and lost the flag 4-1 to the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on Sunday afternoon.

See the highlights in the video above.

Canada’s only major baseball team missed an opportunity to win its three-game streak against the Texas club. The Jays’ most recent winning streak also ended with three wins.

In the duel of the day, manager John Schneider’s men met starter Martin Perez (11-6). The latter allowed the guests the only point with six goals from a safe position. He also passed seven rivals in the glove. It was Teoscar Hernandez who allowed the Blue Jays to avoid the shutout with a double in the sixth inning.

Offensively on the Rangers side, Adolis Garcia and Leody Taveras kicked the ball wide.

Toronto’s starter for this game, Trevor Richards (3-2), had just one out, conceding three hits and walking one against the five batters he faced. He was replaced by David Phelps in heat one.

This defeat ends a fruitful journey abroad for the Queen City team, who will certainly not spit on their record of 8-2 in this sequence.

“It’s been a great trip,” interim manager John Schneider said, according to Sportsnet. The boys are competitive and play well overall. I like where we are as a group and I’m looking forward to next week at home.”

Fatigue, no excuses

Entering the home stretch of the long Major League game schedule, the Jays will need to overcome fatigue to show consistency. For third baseman Matt Chapman, the biggest fights will happen between the ears of his teammates, not on the field.

“Everybody’s tired in Major League Baseball right now,” he said. We have high standards for ourselves, but we can’t force the game either, it has to come to us.

“We have to stay in the moment, control what we can control and find ways to get the work done.”

On Monday night, the Blue Jays play the first game of a five-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays. Among the teams drafted for the playoffs are the two teams from the American’s East Division. The Maple Leaf team is currently half a game behind their Florida rivals.

“The next two series [contre les Rays et les Orioles de Baltimore] will be key for us, Hernandez said. They will decide whether we have to fight to qualify or to defend our position.