ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Jon Gray pitched four-hit ball into the seventh inning and the Texas Rangers got two-run homers from Marcus Semien and Adolis García to beat the Cleveland Guardians 4-0 on Wednesday night, stopping a five-game losing streak.
Gray (2-1) allowed only one runner beyond first base while throwing 94 pitches in 6 1/3 innings. He’s limited opponents to seven earned runs in 48 2/3 innings over eight starts since giving up five runs in 3 2/3 innings during his season debut.
The defending World Series champion Rangers (23-22) have never been under .500 since Bruce Bochy became their manager before last season. This was their seventh victory this year while at .500.
Semien drilled his fifth-inning home run to left field, where the ball grazed the glove of a leaping Estevan Florial.
García homered in the sixth. Nick Sandlin followed starter Carlos Carrasco (2-4) by walking leadoff batter Nathaniel Lowe before García hit his club-best 10th homer to left.
José Leclerc, David Robertson and Kirby Yates completed the six-hitter.
Texas, tied for first in the AL with 209 runs going into Wednesday, was held to 10 total runs in its five straight losses.
Gray escaped one jam, inducing a double-play grounder from Josh Naylor with runners at the corners to end the sixth.
The first-place Guardians (27-17) had won three in a row. They went 8-8 while playing 16 straight days going into Thursday’s off day, including 6-5 after losing Steven Kwan, the league’s leading hitter, to a hamstring strain.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Guardians: Neither OF Tyler Freeman nor SS Brayan Rocchio felt any ill effects from their collision during Tuesday night’s game. … RHP Gavin Williams (elbow) will throw a bullpen on Friday, making more pitches than in his Tuesday session.
Rangers: RHP Max Scherzer (offseason back surgery, nerve issue) can’t return before May 28 after being moved to the 60-day injured list Wednesday. … OF Evan Carter (lower back soreness) missed his fifth consecutive game.
UP NEXT
Guardians RHP Triston McKenzie (2-3, 3.54 ERA) will pitch at home Friday against Minnesota RHP Simeon Woods Richardson (1-0, 3.24) as Cleveland debuts its City Connect uniforms.
Rangers LHP Andrew Heaney (0-4, 4.39) will open a three-game home series against the Los Angeles Angels and former Texas manager Ron Washington on Friday.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
