The Texas Rangers capped off a statement weekend at Globe Life Field on Sunday afternoon, defeating the struggling Cleveland Guardians 5-0 to secure a three-game series sweep and push themselves back to the .500 mark. The victory was fueled by a brilliant outing from recently acquired right-hander Merrill Kelly, who delivered his finest performance yet in a Rangers uniform.
Kelly (10-7) was virtually untouchable, tossing seven-plus scoreless innings while scattering just four singles and issuing two walks. He struck out eight Cleveland hitters and kept the Guardians off balance all game long. The Rangers turned the ball over to lefty Danny Coulombe in the eighth, who promptly shut down Cleveland’s only real scoring threat of the afternoon.
The pitching staff as a whole was nearly flawless throughout the series. Texas starters combined to allow just one run in 21 innings, good for a microscopic 0.43 ERA, silencing the Guardians’ bats at every turn. Cleveland managed just eight hits across the final two games of the series and has now been shut out in back-to-back contests, extending their scoreless streak to 19 consecutive innings.
Offensively, the Rangers provided more than enough run support. In the fourth inning, Adolis García drew a walk and quickly swiped second base. Moments later, Rowdy Tellez launched a towering two-run home run, giving Texas a lead they would never surrender. Josh Jung and Ezequiel Duran followed with singles, and after a Guardians throwing error, rookie Wyatt Langford blooped a clutch two-run single to stretch the lead to 4-0.
In the seventh, Joc Pederson added insurance with a solo blast to right, putting the game fully out of reach.
The win moved the Rangers to an even 63-63 record, keeping them firmly within striking distance in both the AL West and the American League Wild Card race. With the offense finding rhythm and the rotation tightening up behind Kelly, manager Bruce Bochy’s squad looks primed to make things interesting down the stretch.
Meanwhile, Cleveland’s woes continued. The Guardians (57-69) have now dropped five straight and eight of their last nine games, sliding further out of contention. Brayan Rocchio was a lone bright spot, collecting two of the team’s five hits. Starter Gavin Williams (8-5) was chased in the fourth after allowing three runs on three hits and four walks.
For the Rangers, the series sweep felt like a momentum-swinging moment. After battling inconsistency for much of the season, Texas now sees itself back at level ground — and with the postseason race tightening, Sunday’s win could serve as a turning point.
About the Author
