Merrill Kelly’s masterful shutout humiliates Guardians in Rangers’ sweep – but can Texas’ surging ace sustain this brilliance against tougher AL foes?

Deadspin | Merrill Kelly produces gem, Rangers complete sweep of Guardians

Aug 24, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager (5) hits a single during the third inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Merrill Kelly produced his best outing with Texas and Rowdy Tellez ripped a two-run home run to get the ball rolling as the Rangers defeated the hapless Cleveland Guardians 5-0 on Sunday afternoon in Arlington, Texas to complete a three-game series sweep.

The Rangers have won four of their past five games while their starters in the series allowed just one run in 21 innings, a 0.43 ERA.

Texas is back to .500 for the season and stayed within shouting distance in both the AL West race and the quest for a wild-card berth. The Rangers had 10 hits on Sunday, with Corey Seager and Josh Jung collecting two each to lead the attack.

Cleveland was shut out for the second outing in a row after managing just eight hits over those two games – five of which came on Sunday. The Guardians had no extra base hits over the two shutouts and went scoreless over the final 19 innings of the series.

Brayan Rocchio had two hits for the Guardians, who have dropped five straight games and eight of their last nine.

Kelly, acquired by the Rangers from Arizona at the trade deadline, pitched seven-plus scoreless innings, leaving with none out in the eighth after allowing a single and issuing a walk. Danny Coulombe, also obtained by Texas on July 31, got out of the jam without allowing a run.

Kelly (10-7) gave up just four singles (two by Rocchio) and two walks while striking out eight.

The Rangers got all the runs they would need in the fourth. Adolis Garcia started the frame with a walk off Cleveland starter Gavin Williams (8-5), stole second and trotted home on Tellez’s two-run round tripper. Jung and Ezequiel Duran followed with singles and Jung moved up a base on a throwing error by Guardians shortstop Gabriel Arias.

Duran then stole second and both he and Jung sprinted home on a bloop single by Wyatt Langford that gave Texas an 4-0 lead.

The Rangers added to the lead in the seventh when Joc Pederson ripped a solo home run off Cleveland reliever Erik Sabrowski.

Williams lasted just 3 1/3 innings for Cleveland, surrendering three runs on three hits and four walks while striking out three.

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