Hamels, Rangers shut down Yankees
NEW YORK -- Cole Hamels pitched seven shutout innings for his ninth straight road victory and the Texas Rangers extended their road winning streak to eight games with a 7-1 victory over the New York Yankees on Tuesday night.
Adrian Beltre hit a two-run home run off CC Sabathia (5-5) and it was enough for Hamels (9-1). Beltre added an RBI single and Prince Fielder contributed an RBI double as Texas won for the 28th time in its last 36 games.
Pinch hitter Nomar Mazara, Rougned Odor and Jurickson Profar had RBI singles for the final margin for Texas.
Hamels allowed six singles but held Alex Rodriguez hitless with two strikeouts in three at-bats. Rodriguez, who returned from sitting against right-handers Tyler Duffey and Chi-Chi Gonzalez, had a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning.
Hamels had little difficulties with the rest of New York's lineup. He gave up infield hits in the first and second and had two on in the fourth before Aaron Hicks ended the inning by lining into a double play.
After allowing a single to Rob Refsnyder with two outs in the fifth, Hamels retired the last seven hitters on 21 pitches.
Hamels won his fourth straight start and improved to 9-0 on the road since Aug. 15. He's allowed 18 earned runs in 82 1/3 innings for a 1.97 ERA during his road winning streak
Sabathia lasted seven-plus innings and was charged with six runs and eight hits as the Yankees lost their third straight.
New York also lost right fielder Carlos Beltran to a tight right hamstring with one out in the first after he singled. Beltran was slated for an MRI exam.
Texas held a 2-0 lead on Beltre's first-inning home run until adding five in the eighth.
Beltre drove in his third run with a single that took a high hop and went under third baseman Chase Headley. Fielder followed with a double to right field on a ball that eluded a diving attempt by first baseman Mark Teixeira.
Mazara batted for Ryan Rua and followed with a single to left just out of shortstop Didi Gregorius' reach, Odor singled up the middle and Profar reached on an infield single when Gregorius made a rushed throw after Headley cut in front of him.
NOTES: Texas manager Jeff Banister said he was confident in his team's chances to win Monday's game after the 3 1/2-hour rain delay when he saw his players still in uniform, talking about the game, hitting in the cage and expressing agitation about play being stopped with one out in the ninth inning. ... New York manager Joe Girardi said he gave no consideration to using DH Alex Rodriguez as a pinch hitter in the ninth. Girardi also added that there are no indications Rodriguez is not healthy. .... The Yankees optioned RHP Kirby Yates to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and recalled RHP Conor Mullee. ... The rosters were set for the Futures Game on July 10 in San Diego and both teams had two players named. Texas had INF Travis Demeritte selected for the U.S. roster and INF Ronald Guzman was chosen for the World roster. New York had C Gary Sanchez and INF Jorge Mateo named to the World roster.