Cameron Cauley makes splash in big league debut as Rangers top Guardians 6-3 for 5th straight win

CLEVELAND (AP) — Cameron Cauley tripled in the seventh inning for his first hit in his major league debut before scoring the go-ahead run on a single by Nicky Lopez to help the Texas Rangers beat the Cleveland Indians 6-3 on Monday night for their fifth straight victory.

Justin Foscue followed with a two-out double that scored Lopez from first to make it 4-2. That chased Guardians rookie Parker Messick (7-5), who allowed four runs and eight hits in 6 2/3 innings.

Foscue's two-out double in the ninth off Erik Sabrowski accounted for the final two runs, the second one scoring when Steven Kwan overran the ball in left field for an error. Kwan had just thrown out Alejandro Osuna at home plate on a single by Evan Carter to keep it 4-3.

Jacob Latz closed it out with two perfect innings for his 17th save.

Tyler Alexander struck out two in a scoreless first inning for Texas to become the first pitcher to post a save in two straight games and then start the next one since saves became an official statistic in 1969.

Chris Paddack replaced Alexander in the second after signing a one-year deal earlier in the day. The right-hander allowed two runs and seven hits in four innings. He left after a leadoff single by Kahlil Watson in the sixth, and Robby Ahlstrom (3-0) got three outs to keep it tied at 2.

Jake Burger's RBI groundout staked the Rangers to a 1-0 lead in the fourth, and his two-out single tied it 2-all in the sixth.

Gabriel Arias hit the first pitch from Paddack in the fifth for his third home run and Chase DeLauter added an RBI double to put the Guardians up 2-1.

Brayan Rocchio singled off Jakob Junis in the seventh and later scored on a wild pitch to cut it to 4-3. Junis came out for the eighth but left for an undisclosed reason without throwing a pitch. Latz entered and retired the side on eight pitches.

Texas called up Cauley from Triple-A Round Rock before the game and designated outfielder Jarred Kelenic and right-hander Joe Ross for assignment.

Rangers RHP Jacob deGrom (6-5, 3.55 ERA) starts Tuesday opposite Guardians RHP Tanner Bibee (2-8, 3.78).

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Texas Rangers' Cameron Cauley celebrates in the dugout after scoring in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians in Cleveland, Monday, June 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Texas Rangers' Cameron Cauley, right, slides into third base with a triple in front of Cleveland Guardians third baseman Gabriel Arias, left, in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians in Cleveland, Monday, June 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Texas Rangers' Cameron Cauley drops his bat and runs towards first base with a triple, his first major league hit, in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians in Cleveland, Monday, June 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Texas Rangers' Cameron Cauley runs towards first base with a triple, his first major league hit, in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians in Cleveland, Monday, June 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Texas Rangers' Evan Carter, left, scores behind Cleveland Guardians catcher Austin Hedges (27) in the ninth inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Monday, June 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

TORONTO (AP) — The first half of the season has been a messy one for the last-place New York Mets.

Now, even the routine plays aren't routine.

Toronto designated hitter George Springer rounded the bases on a Little League home run against the Mets on Monday night when New York star left fielder Juan Soto misplayed a sinking line drive and center fielder A.J. Ewing flubbed the throw backing up the play.

Springer led off the bottom of the first by looping a ball to left against Mets pitcher Sean Manaea. The ball bounced in front of Soto, and the highest-paid player in Mets history fanned while reaching for it.

“It just took a weird hop on me and bounced a little different,” Soto said. “I thought I had a chance and then it just kept dying. I definitely took a good first step but the ball kept just dying.”

The ball rolled all the way to the wall as the 36-year-old Springer chugged around the bases.

Ewing came over to field it behind Soto, only to have the ball slip out of his glove as he tried to pick it up. The ball rolled back to the fence for a second time. Soto picked it up, but by the time he had it in his hand, Springer had rounded third and was heading for home.

Interim Mets manager Andy Green said Soto played Springer's ball aggressively but was beaten by a turf bounce.

“I think every single time I’ve come to Toronto I’ve seen that particular play,” Green said. “Not necessarily the finish of that play. I know A.J. usually makes the transfer fine, but that play happens frequently here and it got us in the first."

Springer was given a triple, his first of the year, with a one-base error.

“It was funny after the fact that he was out of breath for the next three innings,” Blue Jays pitcher Trey Yesavage said of his veteran teammate

Springer jokingly disputed Yesavage's account.

“Like nine (innings),” he said of his fight for wind. “Had to get this old body ready to run a little bit faster, but it's all good.”

The error was Ewing's second of the season. Shortstop Francisco Lindor made an error later in the game, boosting New York's total to 56 on the season, third-most in the majors behind the Washington Nationals and San Francisco Giants.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter George Springer, right, celebrates with teammate Nathan Lukes (38) as he comes in to score after hitting a triple on an in-field home run after a fielding error by New York Mets' A.J. Ewing during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Monday, June 29, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter George Springer runs home after hitting a triple on an in-field home run after a fielding error by New York Mets' A.J. Ewing during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Monday, June 29, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)