The Toronto Blue Jays erased a three-run deficit in the late innings to edge the Texas Rangers 6-5 on Friday night at Rogers Centre, opening their three-game series with a dramatic victory highlighted by catcher Alejandro Kirk’s first career stolen base. Kirk powered the comeback, cutting a 3-0 gap with a two-run homer in the seventh inning, then delivering a two-run single during a four-run eighth that flipped the score line. The 26-year-old vaulted further into club lore moments later when he swiped second, a rarity for the stocky All-Star whose 90-foot dash drew a standing ovation from the sell-out crowd. Texas appeared to have regained control when former Toronto infielder Marcus Semien greeted reliever Louis Varland with a two-run shot in the top of the eighth for a 5-2 lead. Toronto answered with three straight singles, a bases-loaded walk by Daulton Varsho and Kirk’s decisive base hit off Phil Maton. Jeff Hoffman struck out the side in the ninth for his 25th save. Rangers ace Jacob deGrom, making his first appearance in Toronto since 2019, tossed five scoreless innings of two-hit ball before giving way to the bullpen. Blue Jays right-hander Chris Bassitt allowed three runs over five frames but improved to 9-0 at home after the offence rallied. “This should go down in major-league history,” manager John Schneider said of Kirk’s unlikely steal, adding that the authenticated base is headed for the catcher’s trophy case.