by With one out and the game tied at 2-2 in the top of the seventh inning, Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Tanner Bibee induced what should have been a routine flyout to left with Ezequiel Duran on second and freshly called-up Cooper Ingle in left field.
What followed can only be described as a rookie mistake to end all rookie mistakes on Ingle’s behalf.
Instead of tossing the ball to his teammates, the young utilityman tossed the ball to the fans in left field. Duran took advantage of this major blunder and gave the Rangers the lead, going from second to home.
Not all the blame should be cast on the rookie, as Tuesday was the 10th time in the month of June that the Guardians scored just two or fewer runs. June was an abysmal month of baseball for Cleveland, as the heavily injured Guardians put up a record of 10-15 and won just three series matchups, two of which came before Jose Ramirez’s injury.
Additionally, Tuesday night was another rough outing for veteran Guardians reliever Shawn Armstrong. After giving up a ball to Jake Burger that was cracked to right field and sliced just barely to the right of the foul pole, he immediately gave up a solo home run to Josh Jung.
Moving to 44-42, the Guardians have once again found themselves with their backs against the wall in the early dog days of summer, much like last year. Heading into July 2025, Cleveland held a record of 40-42, which may give some sense of hope to fans.
The Guardians actually opened the scoring on Tuesday night, getting the better of legendary veteran Jacob DeGrom. First baseman Kyle Manzardo hit one over the wall in center field, bringing in Chase DeLauter for a two-run home run.
Texas’s Joc Pederson, who’s been absolutely torrid at the plate in recent weeks, tied it up in the top of the third on a 403-foot two-run blast.
However, from that moment until the seventh inning, Bibee was lights out. Following the Pederson home run, the 27-year-old sent down 12 consecutive Rangers.
Despite being handed the loss due to Duran’s leadoff single that snowballed into another seventh-inning slump, Bibee allowed no walks and just five hits in seven innings of two-run baseball-counting only the earned runs.
Attempting to salvage the series, Cleveland will send out lefty Joey Cantillo to face Rangers southpaw MacKenzie Gore.
Scheduled for 1:10 p.m., temperatures will feel like nearly 110 degrees at first pitch for the finale on Wednesday.
