After dropping the series opener on Monday, the Cleveland Guardians fell again on Tuesday against the Texas Rangers, this time 4-2, in front of their fans at Progressive Field. They are now 44-42, and the Chicago White Sox are slowly starting to build a sizable division lead.
With the game tied at two runs apiece in the seventh inning, Guardians’ rookie Cooper Ingle made a crucial mental blunder that led to the Rangers’ go-ahead run.
Finish strong in the finale.#GuardsBall pic.twitter.com/mteEaOHHm7
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) July 1, 2026
The left fielder thought there were two outs on the scoreboard when he caught a fly ball, and proceeded to throw the ball to the fans in the stands and jog to his dugout. There was only one out, though (two if we count the one he had just caught), and the runner at second base went on to score on the play.
Meanwhile…. The Guardians forgot how many outs there were…. pic.twitter.com/WEeHItmmlC
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) July 1, 2026
Tanner Bibee did his best to limit the Rangers’ offense, and for the most part, he did so successfully. Since he allowed three runs (two earned) in seven frames, however, he was tagged with his ninth loss of the season. He gave up five hits and didn’t walk anyone, fanning two.
The Guardians’ offense scored two early runs with Kyle Manzardo’s two-run home run in the opening frame, but that was all the damage that Jacob deGrom would permit. The future Hall of Fame candidate also threw seven innings, surrendering those two runs, walking no one, and striking out nine.
deGrom settled in nicely after the two-run homer, and he and the Rangers’ bullpen combined to keep the struggling Cleveland offense to just five hits all night.
The Rangers tied the game in the top of the third, with Joc Pederson hitting a two-run homer off Bibee. The right-hander continues to improve, but the long ball keeps causing him all kinds of issues.
The game was tied until the top of the seventh, when Ingle’s unfortunate play happened. Then, in the eighth, Texas would extend its lead against Shawn Armstrong when Josh Jung connected on a solo homer.
The Guardians will try to avoid a sweep on Wednesday, when Joey Cantillo (6-3, 3.87) toes the rubber against MacKenzie Gore (5-6, 4.06).
NEXT: Guardians Make 2 Exciting Pitching Promotions In Their System
