Rowdy Tellez and Joc Pederson homered, and Merrill Kelly earned his first win with Texas by pitching seven terrific innings as the Rangers beat the Cleveland Guardians 5-0 on Sunday to sweep their three-game series.
Kelly (10-7) faced two batters in the eighth and struck out eight, the most in his five starts with Texas since being acquired from Arizona on July 31.
The Rangers (66-66) have won three straight for the first time since sweeping Atlanta from July 25-27. They’re back at .500 for the first time since Aug. 14.
Tellez hit a two-run homer in the fourth, and Wyatt Langford blooped a two-run single into shallow right field. Pederson added a solo shot in the seventh.
The Guardians (64-65) were shut out on eight singles over the final 19 innings of the series and have lost four in a row overall, dropping below .500 for the first time since July 29.
Gavin Williams (8-5) allowed three runs on three hits and four walks in 3 1/3 innings. Williams leads the majors this season with 72 walks.
