Hamels stifles Cubs as Rangers snap skid
CHICAGO -- Cole Hamels took advantage of an early lead and scattered four hits as the Texas Rangers salvaged the finale of a three-game series with a 4-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Sunday.
The left-handed Hamels, who no-hit the Cubs in his last Wrigley Field visit in 2015 while with the Phillies, worked eight innings for his longest outing since going eight on May 22 in the Rangers' 9-2 win over Houston.
Hamels (10-2) struck out seven with an unearned run as the Rangers (55-38) snapped a four-game losing streak.
Closer Sam Dyson struck out the side in a perfect ninth for his 19th save.
John Lackey (7-6) worked eight innings before being pulled for a pinch hitter. He suffered his fourth straight defeat after allowing four runs on six hits, walked two and struck out eight. Lackey hasn't won since an 8-1 Cubs victory over the Phillies on June 8.
The Cubs (55-36) saw a three-game winning streak snapped.
The Rangers scored twice in the second as Lackey gave up four hits, including back-to-back singles to Prince Fielder and Ryan Rua to open the frame.
Fielder came home on Elvis Andrus' base hit to center while Robinson Chirinos followed with a sacrifice drive to center that drove in Rua.
Cubs center fielder Albert Almora Jr. crashed into the ivy-covered brick wall on Chirinos' drive, but as he tumbled to the ground he alertly flipped the ball to left fielder Matt Szczur who threw it back to the infield. Almora appeared unhurt and remained in the game.
Chicago got one run back in the third as Almora reached on an error and scored on Javier Baez' two out double to the left field corner -- the Cubs' first hit off Hamels.
Texas replied in the fourth with Chirinos' two-base hit to left which scored Rua from from second. That left runners on second and this with one out, but Hamels bunted into a ground out and Lackey struck out Rougned Odor to end the inning.
Willson Contreras and Addison Russell reached on base hits to open a promising Cubs seventh but Jason Heyward grounded to Fielder for a double play and Matt Szczur grounded to Hamels for the final out.
Rangers outfielder Ian Desmond made it 4-1 with leadoff home run to left -- his 16th of the season -- in the eighth inning.
NOTES: LHP Cole Hamels' start for the Rangers on Sunday was his first at Wrigley Field since tossing a no-hitter on July 25, 2015. It was the first no-hitter by an opposing pitcher at Wrigley since Sandy Koufax in 1965. ... The Rangers resume their nine-game road trip along with AL West play on Monday with a three-game series at the Los Angeles Angels. Texas sends RHP A.J. Griffin (3-1, 3.81 ERA) against RHP Nick Tropeano (3-2, 3.12 ERA). ... The Rangers-Cubs interleague series is only the fourth in history played in July or later between teams with winning percentages of .600 or better. ... Chicago RHPs Kyle Hendricks and Jason Hammel had back-to-back quality starts to open the series, breaking a team streak of 10 games without quality starts heading into the All-Star break. ... SS Javier Baez earned his second spot this season at the top of the order on Sunday as Ben Zobrist earned a day off. ... The Cubs remain home as they entertain the New York Mets in a three-game series that opens on Monday. LHP Jon Lester (9-4, 3.01 ERA) faces New York LHP Steven Matz (7-5, 3.38 ERA) in the first of back-to-back night games.