Even though the Texas Rangers haven’t played like the defending World Series champions, they played well enough to beat the Cleveland Guardians 5-3 last night at Progressive Field.

Cleveland has lost three games in a row. With Kansas City’s win, the Guardians are clinging to first place by one game in the AL Central.

Cleveland opened a 10-game homestand and is still one of the best home teams in baseball at 38-21.

Let’s see if the Guardians can right the ship.

ROCKY START

Tanner Bibee (10-6) gave up all four of his runs in the second inning. Leody Taveras hit a two-run single and scored on a two-run double by Corey Seager.

Cleveland slowly crawled back into the game. Lane Thomas hit a sacrifice fly in the second to score Will Brennan.

In the third, Daniel Schneemann singled to score Bryan Rocchio. Bo Naylor’s single in the fourth brought home Andres Gimenez.

So the Guardians erased most of the Texas lead but couldn’t get over the hump.

The Rangers scored the final run of the game on a run-scoring double by Adolis Garcia in the seventh.

Timely hitting was hard to come by for the Guardians, who could not manage a hit in the final three innings against three different Texas relievers.

WE NEED FIREWORKS

Guardians fans will enjoy a post-game fireworks display for the second straight night, as the series continues at 7:10.

Ben Lively (10-8) will take the ball for the Guardians, while the Rangers will counter with Jon Gray (5-4).