‘Big Christmas’ Leads Power Outburst As Guardians Snap Losing Streak

The Cleveland Guardians entered Saturday’s game against the Texas Rangers having lost three in a row and six of their last seven.

They were just one game ahead of Kansas City in the AL Central and risked losing the top spot, or at least tying with them, with a loss and a Royals win.

Fortunately for manager Stephen Vogt, his players, and the Guardians as a whole, their bats finally woke up and punished the Rangers’ pitching staff all night to earn a 13-5 win.

Now, Cleveland is two games up, and the Royals, who lost on Saturday, are tied for second place with the Minnesota Twins.

Most of the Guards’ top hitters were ice-cold in recent games, but some of them woke up big-time on Saturday.

The most impressive offensive showing, however, belonged to Jhonkensy Noel.

Noel hit his 11th homer of the season and actually finished a triple shy of the cycle.

He produced loud contact all night long and showed the world why his name can’t be taken out of the lineup at the moment.

The man they call “Big Christmas” was one of the few Guardians actually producing before the game, and he continued his torrid hitting by going 3-for-5 with seven total bases, three runs scored, and three RBI.

With his excellent game, Noel is now hitting .266/.331/.615.

Ben Lively gave his team a much-needed quality start, conceding three runs (two earned) in 6.2 innings pitched, with a walk and four strikeouts.

Josh Naylor and Jose Ramirez, two hitters who entered the game in a slump, also went yard, as did Bo Naylor.

Cleveland will try to take the series on Sunday, with southpaw Matthew Boyd on the mound.