MLB GAME RECAP

Hamels, Rangers roll over anemic Indians

The Sports Xchange

August 25, 2016 at 10:59 pm.

Aug 25, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA;  Texas Rangers starting pitcher Cole Hamels (35) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Cleveland Indians at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Photo Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Aug 25, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Cole Hamels (35) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Cleveland Indians at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Photo Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

ARLINGTON, Texas — Left-hander Cole Hamels allowed just two singles in eight innings of work as the Texas Rangers blanked the Cleveland Indians 9-0 on Thursday night.

Hamels allowed a two-out single to Francisco Lindor in the first inning and then retired the next 19 batters he faced. Hamels (14-4) finished with eight strikeouts as Cleveland managed to get just four balls out of the infield against him before Carlos Santana singled to center to open the eighth inning. Hamels threw 102 pitches and didn’t walk a batter.

The Rangers didn’t have the same kind of problem against Indians starter Josh Tomlin (11-8). Texas jumped on Tomlin for three runs in the second inning on a three-run homer from the newly-acquired Carlos Gomez.

Texas ended Tomlin’s night three innings later by scoring five times as he retired just one batter in the fifth inning. An RBI single from Ian Desmond and a fielder’s choice RBI by Carlos Beltran pushed the Texas lead to 5-0.

Third baseman Adrian Beltre then belted a three-run homer to left-center. Tomlin was charged with eight runs (seven earned) in 4 1/3 innings as he walked two and struck out five.

Rougned Odor capped the scoring for Texas with a solo homer in the eighth on a night in which the Rangers had eight hits from eight players.

The Indians have scored three runs in their last four games.

The Rangers got to Cleveland’s Josh Tomlin for three runs in the second inning after a single and a walk was followed by a three-shot shot to left by Carlos Gomez in his first Texas at-bat.

Texas ended the night for Tomlin in the fifth as Adrian Beltre capped a five-run frame with a three-run homer to left. Ian Desmond and Carlos Beltran each had an RBI before Beltre;s homer to left-center field.

All the offense was more than enough for Cole Hamels, who was in control. After allowing a soft single to Francisco Lindor in the first inning, he retired the next 13 batters.

NOTES: Cleveland released RHP Tommy Hunter, who has been on a rehab assignment after breaking a vertebra in his back over the All-Star break. … Texas purchased the contract of OF Carlos Gomez from Triple-A Round Rock and inserted him into the starting lineup. To make room for Gomez, the Rangers designated OF Drew Stubbs for assignment. … LF Nomar Mazara batted leadoff for Texas for the first time in his career. He became the seventh different player to bat leadoff for the Rangers this year. … The Texas-Cleveland series marked the first time since 1999 that the two teams have played each other after the All-Star break with both in first place in their respective division. … Texas RHP Colby Lewis will make a rehab start Monday and hopes to rejoin the rotation on Sept. 3. Lewis has been on the disabled list since June 25 with a strained right lat.