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 Cole Hamels did not disappoint.
The veteran left-hander pitched a complete-game three-hitter, and
Texas clinched the American League West title with a 9-2 victory
over the Los Angeles Angels.
With its first division title since 2011, Texas heads to Toronto,
where it will begin the American League Division Series against the
Blue Jays on Thursday. The result eliminated the Angels from playoff
contention.
The Rangers will do so knowing they have an ace in Hamels (7-1), who
did not allow a hit after the second inning and struck out eight.
Texas won each of the past 10 games started by Hamels, 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 a matter of time."
The time came in the seventh inning with the Rangers leading 3-2.
Texas sent 10 hitters to the plate and scored six runs as the Angels
were forced to use five relievers to get through the 37-minute
half-inning.
Five consecutive Rangers hitters picked up RBIs. The surge started
with a bases-loaded walk from designated hitter Prince Fielder and
ended when shortstop Elvis Andrus ripped a two-run double to left.
One day after the Rangers could not hold a four-run lead in the
ninth inning, they did not have that problem with Hamels on the
mound. The last hit the Angels had against him was a one-out double
by left fielder Shane Victorino in the second.
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Hamels, who collected his second complete game of the season,
retired 23 of the final 26 batters he faced. He threw 108 pitches
one day after the Rangers had to use eight relievers in their 11-10
loss.
"That's why he is an ace," said Los Angeles center fielder Mike
Trout, who doubled off Hamels and came around to score on designated
hitter Albert Pujols' homer in the first.
"He's pitched in big games before, knows how to handle himself. We
scratched some runs against him early and just fell short."
The Rangers had a bullpen plan constructed in case Hamels struggled.
Luckily for them, they did not need it.
"This game has a cruel sense of humor," Texas manager Jeff Banister
said. "From what happened yesterday, we got punched in the mouth.
When that happens, you find out what you are made of, and you saw
that in everything they did today."
(Editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes)
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