Hamels wins battle as Rangers push past Royals

KANSAS CITY — No. 1 starter Cole Hamels is doing his part to keep the Rangers afloat while they try to figure out about the rest of the rotation.

With trade rumors flying everywhere, the Rangers’ big acquisition from last season won for the second time since the All-Star break in a 7-4 victory over the Royals on Saturday night. Hamels had to battle the heat to get through 5 1/3 innings, but he gave up just one run and now has the only two wins for the club since the break.

Hamels also has the last three wins by a Rangers starting pitcher. The last starter other than Hamels to win a game was Martin Perez on June 26 against the Red Sox at home.

Royals starter Yordano Ventura took the loss despite beginning the night looking great and ending it in pain. He set down the side in order over the first three innings before giving up a two-run homer to Nomar Mazara in the fourth. Mazara also had an RBI double in the fifth.

The Royals trailed, 7-1, going into the ninth and scored three runs. But reliever Sam Dyson, with the bases loaded and one out, got Salvador Perez to ground into a game-ending double play.

MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDHamels grits through: The lefty threw 105 pitches, while three errors by his defense helped extend the pitch count. Hamels’ biggest moment came in the fifth when a two-out double by …

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