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Guardians Rally Behind Three Home Runs to Defeat Rangers 9-4

Cleveland Guardians defeated Texas Rangers 9-4 at Progressive Field on Wednesday, July 1, 2026. Fry, Hedges, and Díaz each hit home runs as Cleveland improved to 45-42.

Demarcus Fields

July 2, 20262 min read

MLBFinal
Texas Rangers4
Cleveland Guardians9

July 1, 2026

Offensive Explosion

The Cleveland Guardians secured a decisive 9-4 victory over the Texas Rangers at Progressive Field, driven by a powerful offensive display that included three home runs. The win improved Cleveland’s record to 45-42, while the Rangers fell to 44-43.

Fry provided an early spark with a three-run homer to right center in the second inning. The blast, measured at 380 feet, plated Hedges and Schneemann, shifting the momentum in favor of the home team. Fry’s power display was part of a larger surge that saw Cleveland extend their lead significantly during that frame.

Hedges continued the offensive pressure later in the game. In the eighth inning, he launched a 400-foot home run to left center, adding two more runs to the scoreboard. This contribution helped solidify Cleveland’s lead as the game progressed.

Díaz also contributed with long-ball power. In the sixth inning, he grounded out but scored a run. Later, in the eighth inning, Díaz hit a 402-foot home run to left center, further expanding the Guardians' advantage.

Pitching Performances

Joey Cantillo earned the win for Cleveland, pitching five innings and allowing two earned runs while striking out four batters. His performance was crucial in keeping the Rangers at bay during the early and middle stages of the game.

On the mound for Texas, MacKenzie Gore took the loss after pitching five innings. He allowed five earned runs on seven hits and struck out seven batters. Cole Winn and Winston Santos also pitched for the Rangers, combining to allow four earned runs over three innings.

Colin Holderman, Hunter Gaddis, Tim Herrin, Erik Sabrowski, and Matt Festa rounded out the Guardians' pitching effort. Holderman pitched one inning, allowing one earned run. Gaddis and Herrin recorded holds, while Sabrowski and Festa pitched scoreless innings to close out the game.

Scoring Summary

The Guardians built their lead through a combination of home runs and timely scoring. In the second inning, Hedges’ sacrifice bunt allowed Rocchio to score, and subsequent wild pitches by Gore plated Arias and moved runners into scoring position. Fry’s home run then cleared the bases.

Cleveland added runs in the third inning when Higashioka walked, allowing Foscue to score. The Rangers challenged the call, but it was upheld. In the sixth inning, Díaz scored on a groundout, and Lopez doubled to left, allowing Osuna to score. DeLauter singled in the seventh, scoring Kwan, and Hoskins walked, allowing DeLauter to score on a wild pitch by Santos.

The game drew an attendance of 20,141 fans to Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio. The final score reflected Cleveland’s offensive dominance and effective pitching, securing the victory in the series finale.

Sources

https://www.espn.com/mlb/game/_/gameId/401815984

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Demarcus Fields

Demarcus Fields covers Celina Bobcats athletics and high school and area sports.

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