Backed by a four-run fourth inning, Cole Hamels struck out eight and allowed one run in six innings as the Rangers defeated the Reds, 6-4, to split the two-game series Wednesday night at Globe Life Park.
Hamels continued his dominance against the Reds dating back to his time with the Phillies, and he is now 10-1 with a 1.93 ERA against them in 15 career starts. Hamels left with a 4-1 lead, and Ian Desmond’s seventh-inning home run against J.J. Hoover was the difference when Eugenio Suarez hit a three-run home run off left-hander Jake Diekman in the eighth.
The Rangers finished their grueling stretch of 20 games in 20 days at 16-4.
“No matter how you do it, no matter how well it looked on paper, we’re getting the job done. It’s about getting the [win],” Hamels said. “We’re playing as a team. No one in this clubhouse is trying to do more than what they’re capable of doing. No one is trying to be selfish. Probably the most positive vibes I’ve experienced day in and day out.”
Shin-Soo Choo’s opposite-field home run in the eighth off Tony Cingrani gave the Rangers a little breathing room. It was Choo’s second homer of the season. Right-hander Sam Dyson came on in the ninth to pick up his 15th save.
“It was huge,” Adrian Beltre said of Choo’s homer. “The bullpen has been really good, normally one run does it, but to to get one more insurance [run] was good to give Dyson more room to pitch.”
Reds starter Dan Straily had matched zeroes with Hamels up until the fourth, when he walked Choo, hit Rougned Odor with a 1-2 pitch and walked Nomar Mazara to lead off the inning. Beltre then drove in Choo with a single up the middle and Prince Fielder followed with a two-run single down the right-field line. Mitch Moreland picked up an RBI on a groundout to round out the scoring in the inning.
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