The Texas Rangers’ six-game winning streak was ended by the Cleveland Guardians on Friday night at Progressive Field with a 12-3 rout.

Starting pitcher Lucas Giolito (8-13) pitched seven strong innings for the Guardians (70-78), allowing only two hits while striking out 12. For the first match since September 8 the Rangers fell short (82-65).

Texas swept the Toronto Blue Jays in four games, scoring 35 runs in the process, to start the road trip and quickly move up the playoff standings. The Rangers will undoubtedly finish no worse than tied for second heading into Saturday’s Wild Card game.

Texas Rangers designated hitter Mitch Garver (18) and third baseman Jonathan Ornelas (36) celebrate after scoring during the ninth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on September 15, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio, the United States. Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Sports, Ken BlazeAfter an offensive explosion in Toronto, the Texas Rangers were restrained.

USA TODAY Sports’ Ken Blaze

The game was already out of hand by the time the Rangers removed Giolito from the mound. Three home runs were hit by the Guardians, including one by former Rangers outfielder Kole Calhoun, who just reached the milestone of ten MLB seasons.

The Rangers’ batters struck out a total of 16 times. Sam Huff’s home run, which was a part of a nine-run rally for the Rangers to avoid the shutout, was helpful.

Jon Gray (8-8) of the Rangers was the losing pitcher and failed to go past the fourth inning for the second consecutive start. The Rangers also exhausted Andrew Heaney, who was a candidate to fill Max Scherzer’s spot in the rotation for Sunday but is now on the injured list.

Notables from the Rangers-Guardians series opener on Friday, Guardians 12, Rangers 3.

Pitching Struggles Jon Gray, the Rangers’ starter, was unable to complete the fourth inning after allowing seven hits and three earned runs in three and a third innings. He walked twice and struck out three times. Along the way, he allowed Andrés Giménez to hit a two-run home run, giving the Guardians a 2-0 lead. Only his second home run of the year, it was.

Gray later gave up a run in the fourth, and Andrew Heaney, a left-hander, took over. Heaney recorded the game’s last out.

Ramón Laureano’s home run to start the fifth inning was Heaney’s fault. The worst of it, though, wasn’t that. He pitched two innings, allowing six hits and six runs, all of them earned.

After that, the Rangers tried to limit the harm to their bullpen by working catcher Austin Hedges through 1 1/3 innings while he gave up three runs, before inserting Ian Kennedy to throw the eighth. Strangely, Hedges threw a flawless eighth inning.

Attacking ProblemsThroughout Giolito’s start, the Rangers had trouble getting him. Giolito gave up the Rangers’ first hit to rookie outfielder Evan Carter, who doubled in the third before being thrown out at third. Carter was initially deemed safe on the play, but the Guardians disputed the call, and the umpires reversed it after finding that Carter’s foot left the bag as the glove was being put on him.

The other hit off Giolito came from Corey Seager in the sixth inning.

The Rangers started to heat up in the ninth inning. Sam Huff drove in the first run for the team with a massive home run to center field. At shortstop, rookie Jonathan Ornelas singled through the hole to record his first Major League hit. Moreover, Mitch Garver singled. Hedges singled with the bases loaded to score two runs.

Coming UpOn Saturday, the Rangers and Guardians will begin their three-game series. Right-hander Tanner Bibee (10-4, 3.03) will face off against Texas’ Dane Dunning (10-6, 3.91). The start time of the match is 5:10. The Rangers have not yet revealed who will start Sunday’s championship game, which will start at 12:40 p.m.