Rangers 10, Mariners 1
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Texas left-hander Cole Hamels struck out 12 batters in seven innings as the Rangers pounded Seattle 10-1 on Saturday night.
Hamels (10-8) gave up seven hits and struck out at least one batter in each of his seven innings as the Rangers have now won each of the last seven games started by Hamels.
The 12 strikeouts were the most for Hamels since he struck out 13 in his July 25 no-hitter for Philadelphia, which was his last start before the trade to Texas. He also didn't walk a batter, making him the first Rangers pitcher to strike out at least 12 and not walk a batter since Yu Darvish on Aug. 1, 2013.
Hamels had plenty of offensive support from the Rangers, who had 14 hits and scored in four of the first five innings.
Left fielder Mike Napoli gave Hamels an early run with an RBI single in the first inning. Texas then scored twice on one infield hit in the second to take a 3-1 lead.
Third baseman Adrian Beltre's two-run double in the fourth off Vidal Nuno (1-3) pushed the Texas lead to 5-1. Beltre added an RBI single as part of a three-run fifth to make it 8-1.
Beltre went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and right fielder Shin-Soo Choo reached base five times. Center fielder Delino DeShields also scored twice, had two hits and an RBI.
The Mariners got their only run in the second when left fielder Franklin Gutierrez homered to center off Hamels.
Nuno, who allowed one hit against the Rangers in seven innings last week, was gone in the fourth inning.
NOTES: The Texas Rangers won't skip anyone in the rotation after a day off Monday, putting their rotation for the Oakland series that starts Tuesday as LHP Martin Perez, RHP Colby Lewis and RHP Yovani Gallardo. ... Texas C Robinson Chirinos, who hasn't played since Sept. 9 because of a sore left biceps, said he feels good enough to play. ... Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon said no decision has been made as to if or when RHP Taijuan Walker will pitch again this season. Walker (11-8) has already thrown 169 2/3 innings this year. ... Seattle OF Nelson Cruz set a career high with 167 hits with a single in Friday night's game. His previous mark of 166 came last year with Baltimore.