ARLINGTON, Texas — Austin Hedges and Bobby Bradley homered, José Ramírez drove in three runs and rookie Eli Morgan won his third straight start as the Cleveland Indians beat the Texas Rangers 9-6.
The Tribe clinched second place in the AL Central and must win their two remaining games to avoid their first losing record since 2012 (currently 79-81). Hedges homered in the four-run third inning, and Bradley did so in the five-run fourth.
Nathaniel Lowe, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Jose Trevino homered for the Rangers (59-101). The latter was a two-run blast that came in the bottom of the ninth and cut Cleveland's lead to three, but Blake Parker got the last two outs to preserve the victory.
Bryan Shaw pitched a scoreless eighth, and made history in the process. It was his 457th career relief appearance in a Cleveland uniform, breaking Cody Allen's record for the most in franchise history.
The Tribe will play its second-to-last game of the season (and of the Indians era) Saturday night in Arlington. Triston McKenzie (5-8, 4.81 ERA) will start against Texas' Jordan Lyles (9-13, 5.31).
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