Rangers vs Guardians Recap: Guardians Roll to 9-4 Win

The Rangers rolled into Cleveland looking sharp. They had just beaten the Guardians 4-2 the night before and sat at 44-43 on the season. Texas wanted to keep the winning energy alive. But the Guardians had other plans at home. The second inning exploded with action. Austin Hedges laid down a sacrifice bunt that scored Brayan Rocchio. Then a wild pitch from MacKenzie Gore sent Gabriel Arias racing home. David Fry stepped up and launched a fastball into right-center field. The ball flew 380 feet and cleared the wall. Hedges and Daniel Schneemann scored on the blast. Cleveland led 5-0 before Texas could blink. The Rangers' pitcher Gore was already in trouble.

The Rangers didn't quit. In the third inning, Kyle Higashioka drew a walk with the bases loaded. That brought home Justin Foscue to make it 5-1. The sixth inning gave Texas more hope. Elias Diaz grounded out to second, but Higashioka scored on the play. Then Nicky Lopez doubled down the left field line and Alejandro Osuna raced home. Texas was fighting back, trailing just 5-3. But the Guardians answered in the seventh. Chase DeLauter slapped a single to right field. Steven Kwan scored on the hit. Then Rhys Hoskins walked and a wild pitch let DeLauter score. Cleveland stretched its lead to 7-3 heading into the late innings.

The Rangers kept pushing in the eighth inning. Elias Diaz smashed a 402-foot home run to left-center field off Erik Sabrowski. That cut the Guardians' lead to 7-4. You could feel the momentum shifting toward Texas. But Cleveland wasn't done yet. Austin Hedges answered with his own blast, a 400-foot rocket to left-center field. Kahlil Watson also scored on the play. The Guardians stretched their lead right back to 9-4. The late rally was all Cleveland needed. Texas added nothing more in the final innings. When the last out was made, Cleveland celebrated a 9-4 victory. The Guardians improved to 45-42. The Rangers fell to 44-44. Both teams were fighting for playoff position as we headed toward the All-Star break.