Pirates hit 4 HRs to end Hamels’ win streak

ARLINGTON — Pirates left-hander Jonathan Niese outpitched Cole Hamels and handed him his first loss since Aug. 7, 2015, in a 9-1 victory over the Rangers on Friday night. The Pirates, with four home runs on the night, have won 10 of their last 12 games to go a season-high nine games over .500.

Hamels was 12-0 with a 2.99 ERA in his last 19 starts before allowing six runs — five earned — in 4 2/3 innings. This was Hamels’ shortest outing in 22 starts for the Rangers and his first loss at Globe Life Park since being acquired from the Phillies on July 31 last year.

Hamels gave up a solo home run to Starling Marte in the second and a three-run home run to Jung Ho Kang in a five-run fifth inning. Andrew McCutchen and Gregory Polanco also homered for the Pirates.

“I think not getting the results with certain pitches,” Hamels said. “Sometimes you’re going to leave pitches in the zone. You’re hoping they’re going to make the mistake. The two pitches I threw up in the middle of the zone they were able to hit out. Especially in the situation of that inning in the fifth, you’ve got to try and keep the ball down or get the pop up here and there.

“Sometimes that happens. You’re going to make alot of pitches in games and not necessarily be good ones. It was a tough game just because the fact Niese pitches really well and we weren’t able to get runners on or runners. I didn’t help that cause during the fifth.”

Niese allowed one run on seven hits, two walks and a strikeout over six innings. He is now 2-0 with a 1.89 ERA in his last three starts.

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