Rangers 2, Astros 1
ARLINGTON, Texas –- Cole Hamels sure seems to love his new playground.
The Texas lefty improved to a perfect 7-0 at Globe Life Park after the Rangers' 2-1 win Wednesday night over the Houston Astros.
Texas (9-6) has taken the first two of the three-game series against its instate American League West rival. The Astros (5-10) have dropped six of their last eight contests.
Hamels also improved to 3-0 for the first time in his career and ran his career-high winning streak to 10 games. Yu Darvish is the only other Ranger to open 7-0 in Arlington.
Since coming over from Philadelphia last season, Texas has won all 14 of Hamels' regular-season starts.
This victory wasn't the cleanest for Hamels against the aggressive-swinging Astros. Hamels hit three batters and walked three, while often working around men on base during his 6 2/3 innings.
Seven strikeouts and three double plays aided Hamels’ cause, as Houston stranded seven baserunners against him and nine for the game.
Three Texas relievers protected a one-run lead, with Shawn Tolleson working a one-hit ninth for his fifth save and second in two nights.
Houston starter Doug Fister (1-2) was solid in his six innings of work, giving up five hits and walking two. One of those walks came around to score on Rougned Odor's two-run blast into the right-field upper deck in the second.
Houston was finally able to get to Hamels and on the board in the sixth on Tyler White's solo shot into the visitor's bullpen in left-center.
The Rangers took a 2-0 lead off Fister in the second on Odor's two-run blast into the right-field upper deck.
Hamels found himself in a serious jam in each of the first two innings, but the veteran was able to dance around trouble and get out of each frame unscathed. The Astros didn't do themselves any favors with questionable base running.
Hamels opened the game by hitting Houston's first two batters. Two strikeouts followed, with the second preceding a caught stealing to end the inning. The Astros loaded the bases in the second with no outs before a bigger meltdown.
Marwin Gonzalez lifted a fly ball to medium depth to right and Texas right fielder Nomar Mazara fired home. Colby Rasmus, at third, didn't break for the plate, but the runners at first and second tagged and tried to advance. They forced Rasmus off third, leading to a rundown and an unlikely double play that thwarted Houston's threat.
Hamels would continue to live well. Houston's Jose Altuve was gunned down trying to stretch a single into a double to lead off the third. The Astros would also strand runners at the corners in the fifth.
NOTES: After accusing the Astros of stealing signs Tuesday night, Rangers LHP Derek Holland spoke with Houston manager A.J. Hinch before Wednesday's game. Hinch denied the accusation. "He told me they're not that type of team," Holland said. "I believe him. I thought they were doing something, but I was wrong." Holland admitted he might have been tipping his pitches and needed to do a better job in that regard. ... Texas starters went into Wednesday have completed at least five innings in each of their first 14 starts, which is the second-longest season-opening streak in Rangers history (18 in 2012). ... Houston started the season facing 13 consecutive right-handed pitchers. Texas' Cole Hamels was the second lefty they opposed in two games. ... Houston's Jose Altuve reached five home runs faster than any second baseman in club history, doing it in 14 games.