Jhonkensy Noel hit a home run for the second game in a row, and Matthew Boyd pitched six strong innings for his first win in over a year, leading the Cleveland Guardians to a 4-2 victory over the Texas Rangers on Sunday.
Noel blasted a solo homer in the second inning against Cody Bradford (4-2), sending a 413-foot drive to center field. This was Noel’s 12th homer since his debut on June 26, tying Russell Branyan for the most home runs by a Cleveland player in his first 41 games.
“I just follow the advice of the best player in the world, José Ramírez,” Noel said through an interpreter. “I know the type of hitter that I am, but I’m still adjusting and learning and trying to put the ball in play.”
Noel also made an impact on the bases, scoring an insurance run in the seventh inning after reaching base on a wild pitch and then scoring on a throwing error by reliever Jose Leclerc.
“If you hustle down the line and do things like that, it makes it easier for the team and shows the right thing,” he said.
With this win, the Guardians extended their AL Central lead to three games over Kansas City and Minnesota. The Royals will start a four-game series in Cleveland with a doubleheader on Monday.
Boyd (1-0) gave up one run and three hits in his third start since returning from Tommy John surgery. He struck out four and got his first win since June 21, 2023, when he was with Detroit.
“It kind of skipped my mind that it was a win until my dad texted me,” Boyd said, laughing. “He told me to make sure to get a ball, so I did.”
