Texas Rangers Blank Cleveland Guardians For Second Straight Win

Rangers left-hander Andrew Heaney was coming off his worst start as a Ranger before the All-Star Break. He gave up eight hits and eight runs (seven earned) in three innings against the Washington Nationals. With a week to rest, Heaney found a groove again, going 5 1/3 innings. He scattered six hits, striking out four and walking one. But he was still unable to get through six complete innings. The last time he did that was when he threw seven innings against Baltimore on May 27.

Grant Anderson came up big with one out in the top of the sixth inning, getting Cleveland's Tyler Freeman to ground into an inning-ending double-play to keep the Rangers ahead, 2-0. Anderson allowed a single and retired one hitter in the seventh before giving way to Will Smith, who retired the next two hitters. Smith pitched a clean eighth and yielded to Aroldis Chapman, who worked the ninth to claim his first save as a Ranger and his third save of 2023. 

The Rangers had the bases loaded in both the first and second innings against Guardians starter Gavin Williams, but they were only able to convert a run in each of those two innings. Adolis García grounded into a force out that scored Marcus Semien in the first inning to make it 1-0. Semien's sacrifice fly in foul territory scored Jonah Heim from third base in the second inning. A game after the Rangers scored 12 runs on the Guardians, they had five hits, were 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position and stranded six baserunners.

The Rangers seek the series sweep over the Guardians at 1:35 p.m. on Sunday, with the game set to be broadcast on Bally Sports Southwest and 105.3 The Fan. The Rangers will start left-hander Martín Pérez (7-3, 4.81) and the Guardians will start right-hander Tanner Bibee (5-2, 3.34). Starting on Monday, the Rangers will host Tampa Bay for three games.