​The Texas Rangers defeated the Cleveland Guardians 4-2 at Progressive Field, with Joc Pederson hitting a two-run homer in the second inning to help power the comeback. The early portion of the game saw rough struggles for Texas: Corey Seager did not play due to a balky back, and Jacob deGrom, who had been a menace for Texas in the first inning this season, allowed an early two-run homer to Chase DeLauter and Kyle Manzardo after a one-out double. Texas trailed 2-0 before responding.
DeGrom settled in after the rocky start, giving up only a leadoff single into the seventh inning, and the Rangers capitalized in the third with Pederson’s two-run blast to even the score. The game remained tied until the seventh, when a misplay by Cleveland left fielder Cooper Ingle changed the complexion of the inning. After Ezequiel Duran advanced to second on a flyball that Ingle forgot to account for, Duran scored on a two-base advancement due to the misplay, giving Texas the lead.
Cleveland added a small third-inning spike with a solo homer from Josh Jung in the eighth, making it 4-2, but the Guardians could not muster another rally. Ingle’s unfortunate miscue stood as a focal moment of the night, while Duran’s stolen chance to score on the error ultimately proved decisive in giving Texas the win.