Rangers seize AL West plum

LOS ANGELES—Cole Hamels pitched a complete game three-hitter as the Texas Rangers clinched the AL West title on the final day of the regular season with a 9-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels.

Left-hander Hamels’ pitching gem on Sunday came one day after Texas used nine pitchers in a dramatic 11-10 loss to the Angels.

The loss eliminated the Angels, who came into the game with a wild-card shot and it set up an American League Division series matchup against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Texas has won each of the past 10 Major League Baseball games started by Hamels, but none bigger than Sunday.

“All I was thinking about was trying to manage the game and limit baserunners and go as deep as I could go,” Hamels said. “I knew we were going to score runs. It was just amatter of time.”

Hamels gave up two of his three hits in the first inning as designated hitter Albert Pujols gave the Angels an early 2-0 lead with a home run to center field.

The Jays missed out on home field advantage throughout the playoffs when they lost 12-3 to the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday.

The playoff round is set to open Tuesday at Yankee Stadium when 20-game winner Dallas Keuchel starts for the Houston Astros against New York ace pitcher Masahiro Tanaka in the American League wild-card game.

The Chicago Cubs, still trying for their first World Series title since 1908, play at Pittsburgh on Wednesday in the National League wild-card game.