Hamels shines in Rangers’ shutout win over Astros
HOUSTON » Cole Hamels allowed just one hit over six innings to narrowly outduel Justin Verlander, leading the Texas Rangers to a 1-0 win over the Houston Astros on Friday night.
Hamels (2-4) cruised through the first four innings without allowing a hit before Evan Gattis led off the fifth with a single that dribbled between third base and shortstop into left field.
Hamels allowed six baserunners — one hit, three walks and two hit batters — while striking out five. He entered the game having lost six of his previous seven decisions. Keone Kela earned his eighth save of the season, walking one in the ninth.
Astros outfielder George Springer left the game in the fourth inning after being hit by a 92 mph fastball from Hamels on his left elbow and was on the ground for nearly two minutes as Houston’s medical staff attended to him. Springer finished the inning as a baserunner but was replaced in center field in the top of the fourth by Jake Marisnick. He is day to day with an elbow bruise. CUBS 11, WHITE SOX 2» Willson Contreras had two homers, two doubles and drove in a career-high seven runs on his bobblehead day to lead the Cubs over the crosstown White Sox. PIRATES 11, GIANTS 2 » Starling Marte, Josh Bell and Jose Osuna hit two-run homers, Max Moroff added a three-run blast and Pittsburgh beat San Francisco in Andrew McCutchen’s return to PNC Park. ORIOLES 9, RAYS 4 » Manny Machado hit two home runs, including his eighth career grand slam, as Baltimore won its third straight. Machado ripped a two-run shot in the first inning off Jake Faria (3-2) and made it 8-1 in the seventh with a drive off Ryne Stanek. ATHLETICS 10, YANKEES 5 » Khris Davis, Matt Chapman, Jed Lowrie and Matt Joyce all homered for Oakland, and New York lost backto-back games for the first time in more than a month. MARLINS 6, BRAVES 3 » J.T. Realmuto had three hits, including his fifth homer, and Miami broke a four-game losing streak. Starlin Castro hit his second homer and drove in two runs for the Marlins. ROYALS 10, INDIANS 9 » Andrew Miller, activated from the disabled list before the game, gave up Salvador Perez’s two-run homer in the seventh inning and Kansas City rallied from a 9-4 deficit to beat Cleveland.