American League

Hamels dazzles, strikes out 10 in Rangers' victory

RANGERS 4, ORIOLES 1

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Cole Hamels delivered the type of performance the Texas Rangers hoped to get when they traded for him.

Hamels pitched his best game since being acquired by Texas, striking out 10 in eight innings Friday night in a 4-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.

"This is what everybody kind of envisioned when we traded for him," catcher Chris Gimenez said.

The Rangers maintained their hold on the AL's second wild-card spot and moved within four games of West-leading Houston.

"This is the part of the season where everything is focused on," said Hamels, the 2008 World Series MVP for the Philadelphia Phillies. "This is where you have to be at your best."

All-Star outfielder Adam Jones started for the Orioles, a day after he ran into a wall and was forced to leave, but Baltimore lost for the eighth time in nine games.

Jones went 1 for 4 with two strikeouts, one coming with the bases loaded in the third inning.

"We just, offensively, haven't been putting much together," Orioles Manager Buck Showalter said. "[Hamels] was good, and we weren't very good. So, that's a bad combination."

Hamels (2-1) gave up one run and two hits. Acquired from Philadelphia shortly before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, the three-time All-Star won for the first time at home after two no-decisions.

The left-hander pitched a no-hitter in his final start for the Phillies.

"I think he proved to everybody just how tough he is really and the type of pitcher he is," Texas Manager Jeff Banister said.

Shawn Tolleson pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his 27th save in 29 chances.

INDIANS 3, ANGELS 1 Trevor Bauer, starting in place of an ill Danny Salazar, allowed one run in eight innings and Cleveland defeated visiting Los Angeles. Bauer (10-10) won for the second time in nine starts. He replaced Salazar, who was scratched because of a virus. Bauer allowed five hits and struck out seven.

ROYALS 3, RAYS 2 Kendrys Morales hit his 15th home run, Edinson Volquez pitched into the seventh inning and AL Central-leading Kansas City beat host Tampa Bay. Morales put the Royals up 3-1 with a two-run shot in the third off Erasmo Ramirez (10-5) that struck an overhanging catwalk. He has 89 RBI this season, including a majors-best 46 with two outs.

BLUE JAYS 5, TIGERS 3 Josh Donaldson and Troy Tulowitzki hit back-to-back home runs, Jose Bautista also connected and Toronto won for the eighth time in 10 games, beating visiting Detroit. R.A. Dickey (9-10) pitched 6 2/3 innings to win his sixth consecutive decision as the AL East-leading Blue Jays improved to 19-5 in August.

MARINERS 2, WHITE SOX 0 Kyle Seager and Franklin Gutierrez both had three hits and a home run and Taijuan Walker allowed three hits before leaving with an injury in the seventh inning as Seattle beat host Chicago. Walker (10-7) suffered a cramp in his right hip flexor after working 6 1/3 innings.

TWINS 3, ASTROS 0 Eduardo Nunez hit a home run and Kyle Gibson pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings to help Minnesota to a victory over visiting Houston. Gibson (9-9) gave up 4 hits, struck out 4 and walked 3. Kevin Jepsen picked up his ninth save.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

BREWERS 5, REDS 0 Taylor Jungmann pitched six strong innings and fellow rookie Domingo Santana hit a home run to lead host Milwaukee to a victory over Cincinnati. Jungmann (8-5) limited the Reds to 3 hits and 3 walks while striking out 5.

PHILLIES 7, PADRES 1 Rookie Aaron Nola pitched seven strong innings and Cameron Rupp hit a home run and drove in four runs, leading Philadelphia over visiting San Diego. Rookie Aaron Altherr had an RBI triple as the Phillies ended their four-game losing streak. Altherr has seven hits in the majors, all for extra bases.

MARLINS 4, NATIONALS 3 Martin Prado and Marcell Ozuna each had home runs off Washington starter Max Scherzer, and Miami built a three-run lead, then held on to beat the host Nationals. Scherzer (11-11) went 7 innings, allowing 4 runs and 6 hits.

PIRATES 5, ROCKIES 3 Pinch-hitter Josh Harrison singled home Francisco Cervelli with the go-ahead run in the eighth inning and the Pittsburgh bullpen continued its hot streak in the Pirates' victory over visiting Colorado. Tony Watson (3-1) earned the victory with a scoreless inning of relief.

INTERLEAGUE

YANKEES 15, BRAVES 4 Didi Gregorius drove in a career-high six runs, Brian McCann hit a three-run home run in his return to Atlanta and New York shook off a scoring slump to beat the host Braves. Gregorius had four hits, including a three-run home run in the first inning and a two-run single in the second.

RED SOX 6, METS 4 (10) Blake Swihart hit an inside-the-park home run in the 10th inning and visiting Boston stopped New York's seven-game winning streak. The Red Sox, visiting the Mets for the first time since 2001, scored three times in the 10th.

Sports on 08/29/2015

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