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Jun 30, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Texas Rangers designated hitter Joc Pederson (3) celebrates with second baseman Nicky Lopez (33) after hitting a two-run home run during the second inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
The Texas Rangers scored four runs while the Cleveland Guardians scored two runs.
The first couple of handfuls of minutes of tonight’s game was enough to make one wonder if maybe the wheels were finally coming off. Despite piling up some wins here in the final days of June, parts have been falling off the vessel even as Texas continues to barrel forward at full throttle.
In the top of the first, after a couple of outs, Corey Seager was due up to face right-hander Tanner Bibee, but instead, Cam Cauley arrived in the box on his second day as a big leaguer. Seager never entered the game as he appears to once again be dealing with a balky back, an issue that sidelined him several weeks. That was before a concussion knocked him out for several series.
With Brandon Nimmo out and Wyatt Langford on the IL, Seager became yet another top-of-the-lineup regular not participating in this one.
Things didn’t get much better in the bottom of the inning for tonight’s other superstar Jacob deGrom as after three Cleveland batters, it was 2-0 Guardians following a one-out Chase DeLauter double that was followed by a Kyle Manzardo two-run home run.
deGrom has been among the more prominent perpetrators of first inning misery for Texas this season, but the Rangers had been better about getting out to leads during this road trip. Tonight they would have to battle back from an early deficit, which isn’t something they’ve been adept at all season.
Nevertheless, deGrom allowed a leadoff single in the next inning but then didn’t allow another hit until two outs in the seventh. With deGrom settled in, the Rangers were given a golden opportunity to enjoy a comeback. Joc Pederson made that more of a reality by smacking a two-run home run of his own in the the top of the third to tie the game.
The scored stayed tied with deGrom battling Bibee until the top of the seventh when the Rangers were given a gift.
With one out, and Ezequiel Duran on second base representing the go-ahead run, Alejandro Osuna popped a lazy flyball to medium distance in left field where Cleveland left fielder Cooper Ingle easily fielded the ball before jogging in a few steps and tossing the ball into the stands, completely forgetting the number of outs.
By rule Duran was allowed to advance two bases, which means he scored the go-ahead and eventual winning run on the ultimate brain fart.
Ingle likely wished the Cuyahoga River would swallow him up. Maybe he felt a tad better when Josh Jung hit a solo home run in the eighth to make it a 4-2 game. At least then he could tell himself it wasn’t a one-run loss in which his blunder contributed the one run.
With the lead, the Rangers went to Peyton Gray for a scoreless inning before handing the ball to Jacob Latz for a scoreless ninth and his 18th save of the year. Almost cruelly, Ingle was the last batter for Cleveland. He struck out looking.
The victory is Texas’ sixth in a row, their best winning streak of the year.
Player of the Game: Despite that danged first inning bugaboo providing a jump scare again tonight, deGrom settled in and gave the Rangers seven innings of two-run ball. deGrom allowed the two runs on four hits and zero walks and nine strikeouts.
deGrom also picked up his seventh win of the season as he continues to make a case for an All-Star nod.
Up Next: The Rangers open July with an opportunity for a second consecutive sweep as LHP MacKenzie Gore will take the mound for Texas in the road trip finale opposite LHP Joey Cantillo for Cleveland.
Wednesday’s early first pitch from Progressive Field is scheduled for 12:10 pm CDT and will be aired on the Rangers Sports Network.
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