Hamels wins battle as Rangers push past KC

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.

“It’s not like we’re down and out,” Hamels said. “We’re still in first place [in the American League West] and that’s where we’re trying to stay, and what we’re trying to maintain. Just getting in a good rhythm again and once we’re in that rhythm anything can happen. When you start putting added pressure on something that’s when you get yourself in trouble. You’ve got to know when to stay in your lane.”

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.

“All in all, the only player that hurt [Ventura] was Mazara,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “It was the only damage that was really done [against him].”

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.

“Obviously the ninth inning didn’t play out like we wanted,” Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. “When things are challenging and wins are not readily available, it’s a challenge, these guys gutted it out. It’s a win, we’ll celebrate it and come back …

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