Jon Gray pitched well into the seventh inning, allowing just four hits, and the Texas Rangers secured a 4-0 win over the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday. This victory halted their recent five-game losing streak.
Gray, with a season ERA of 2.08, showcased his consistency once again, limiting the Guardians to minimal scoring opportunities. He has been in solid form throughout the season, giving up only seven earned runs in over 48 innings of play across eight starts.
“I find myself performing better when the going gets tough,” Gray remarked, emphasizing the importance of resilience for a starting pitcher. The Rangers, the reigning World Series champions, have maintained their status above .500, winning their seventh game of the season while at this level.
Marcus Semien’s home run in the fifth inning, his fifth of the season, contributed significantly to the Rangers’ victory. The ball narrowly missed the outstretched glove of Estevan Florial in left field, adding to the excitement of the game.
García hit another home run in the sixth inning, marking his second consecutive night with a homer. Nick Sandlin took over from starter Carlos Carrasco and walked the leadoff batter, Nathaniel Lowe, before García smashed his 10th home run of the season to left field.
José Leclerc, David Robertson, and Kirby Yates combined to limit the Guardians to six hits for the entire game.
Despite entering the game tied for first in the AL with 209 runs, the Texas team struggled to score, managing only 10 total runs during their recent five-game losing streak. Gray managed to get out of a tough situation in the sixth inning by inducing a double-play grounder from Naylor with runners at the corners.
The Guardians, who were leading the league with a 27-17 record, had won three consecutive games before this loss. They had a tough schedule, playing 16 games in a row leading up to their off day on Thursday, winning three out of five series during this period.
