The Cleveland Guardians stopped the bleeding Wednesday afternoon, knocking off the Texas Rangers 9-4 at home and keeping themselves out of a sweep in the series finale.
It was the kind of win Cleveland needed badly. The Guardians broke things open with a five-run second inning and never gave that cushion back, finishing the day at 45-42. They had dropped 15 of their previous 23, but the victory - paired with a Chicago White Sox loss - pulled Cleveland to within one game in the division.
Joey Cantillo was handed the ball and gave the Guardians five innings, allowing two runs while striking out four. The line got a little messy, though, with Cantillo giving up three hits and issuing five walks before turning the game over to the bullpen. That group had to work for it, but it held together enough to get Cleveland across the finish line.
The big swing in the game came in the second. Brayan Rocchio and Gabriel Arias started the inning with back-to-back singles, putting runners on the corners.
After Khalil Watson struck out, Austin Hedges laid down a perfect safety squeeze that brought Rocchio home. Daniel Schneemann then walked to load the bases, and a wild pitch from Rangers starter MacKenzie Gore let Arias score to make it 2-0.
Then David Fry blew it open with a three-run homer, his fifth of the season, and suddenly Cleveland was sitting on a 5-0 lead.
Texas made Cantillo work in the third, loading the bases after two walks and a single. Kyle Higashioka then drew a walk to force in the Rangers’ first run.
The trouble continued in the sixth. Cantillo walked Higashioka again to start the inning, and Stephen Vogt went to the bullpen. Colin Holderman came in and allowed the inherited runner to score, along with another run of his own, trimming the lead to 5-3.
Hunter Gaddis took over for the seventh and ran into immediate traffic, giving up a hit to Ezequiel Duran and a walk to Jake Burger. He struck out Joc Pederson, but that was the end of his night, and Tim Herrin came in to record the final two outs of the inning.
Cleveland answered in the bottom half. Steven Kwan, who has been struggling, ripped a triple down the left-field line and scored on a Chase DeLauter single. DeLauter later came around himself on a wild pitch for the Guardians’ seventh run, continuing to produce after returning from the injured list this past weekend.
The Rangers got one back in the eighth on Elias Diaz’s solo homer, but Hedges shut the door on any real push with a two-run shot in the bottom of the inning.
DeLauter finished with three hits, including a double, while Fry drove in three with his big homer. Hedges went 1-for-3 with two runs scored, a homer and three RBI.
In Other News...
Guardians Suddenly Face A Heartbreaking Venezuela Crisis Close To Home
The earthquakes that rocked central Venezuela on June 24 have hit close to home for several Guardians players and staff, turning a distant disaster into something painfully personal. The twin quakes, measured at 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude, caused widespread damage and casualties, and the impact has been felt deeply inside a clubhouse with strong ties to the country.
Brayan Roccio said his family and homes are OK, and Gabriel Arias also reported that all of his family is safe, even as they know many people whose families are missing or dead. MLB and the MLB Players Association have donated $1 million to the Red Cross for relief efforts, but for those with loved ones in the affected areas, the wait for better news remains the part they are still living through. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Let A Brutal Rookie Mistake Ruin A Winnable Loss
The Guardians had enough in front of them to keep this one tight for seven innings, with Tanner Bibee matching up against Jacob deGrom in a game that never really loosened up at Progressive Field. Cleveland even got an early lift from its offense, but deGrom settled in the way he often does and kept the pressure on a lineup that could not afford many wasted chances in a series opener already carrying some urgency.
Then the seventh inning turned a winnable loss into something messier. A rookie mistake on the infield opened the door for Texas to grab the lead, and the Rangers never gave it back, eventually finishing off a 4-2 win that sent Cleveland to a second straight defeat. For a club trying to squeeze value out of every close game, it was the kind of breakdown that lingers because the margin was so thin until it suddenly was not. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Fans Are Split After Cooper Ingle's Costly Mistake
Cooper Ingles rough moment against Texas quickly turned into a familiar Cleveland debate: how much patience should a team show when a young player makes a costly mistake in the field? The throwing error in the outfield sparked some fan frustration and immediate calls for a benching, but both broadcaster Ken Carman and manager Vogt stepped in to defend him, stressing that Ingle is still learning the position and should not be defined by one play.
The bigger context matters here, because Ingle is not an outfielder by trade and has been asked to handle the spot so his bat can stay in the lineup. Cleveland has made clear it wants to keep developing him in that role rather than yank him after one bad night, which leaves the discussion less about punishment and more about how much growing pains the Guardians are willing to absorb while they keep his offense in play. [Read more 🡒]