Cole Hamels Dominates, Carlos Gomez Homers In Rangers’ 9-0 Rout Of Indians

Cole Hamels was spectacular on the mound at Globe Life Park on Thursday, and Carlos Gomez contributed a big hit in his debut with a fresh start.

Cole Hamels Dominates, Carlos Gomez Homers In Rangers’ 9-0 Rout Of Indians

Hamels gave up just two singles over eight innings for his 14th victory and Gomez smacked a three-run homer in his first at-bat in the second inning to lead the Texas Rangers to a 9-0 home thrashing of the Cleveland Indians on Thursday night.

The game marked the opener of a four-game series between division leaders. The Rangers (75-53) remain atop the American League West, while the Indians (72-54) lead the AL Central.

The Indians managed just two singles and struck out eight times against lefty Hamels. Gomez’s– who was signed by Texas on Saturday– and Adrian Beltre’s three-run home runs both came off Tribe starter Josh Tomlin.

“Especially at this time in the year, these are important games,” Hamels. “When you’re able to come home for that first game, you want to set the tone, and I think that’s what we were really focused on tonight. [The Indians] are a good hitting team. … You just want to try and get ahead.”

Dating back to the All-Star break, Hamels has turned in a 1.59 ERA with a .212 opponents’ batting average and 58 strikeouts in 56 2/3 innings for the Rangers, who have a 7 1/2-game lead over Seattle in the AL West.

Tomlin allowed eight runs (seven earned) in 4 1/3 innings and now has a 7.51 ERA over his last nine outings. The Indians had their AL Central lead over Detroit cut down to 4 1/2 games.

“I don’t think the line looks very good. I thought his stuff was better than that,” Indians manager Terry Francona said of Tomlin. “Like I kind of told these guys, sometimes you’ve just got to fight through it. It’s probably unrealistic that you don’t get tested through a long year. We’ll fight through it together.”

Gomez blasted the second pitch he faced as a Ranger into the left-field seats for a three-run homer to give Texas a 3-0 lead in the second, his fifth home run of the season. The line-drive home run came off of Gomez’s bat at an estimated 107 mph and traveled 415 feet, per Statcast™. It was Gomez’s first home run since July 17.

“This is a five-tool player that can impact the game,” Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. “He’s hungry. He wants to prove to the baseball world that he’s still a very relevant player in this game.”

Beltre capped a five-run fifth inning with his 22nd long ball of the year. He is now alone at No. 45 on the all-time home run list with 435, passing former Rangers Juan Gonzalez and Andruw Jones.

“[Beltre’s] a future Hall of Famer, it’s special to watch,” Banister said. “I love seeing it every night. I look forward to what he’s going to do for this ball-club and for himself.”

Thursday’s game also marked the first meeting between the Indians and catcher Jonathan Lucroy since he blocked a trade– which he was contractually allowed to do– that would have brought him to Cleveland prior to the Aug. 1 non-waiver Trade Deadline. Against the Tribe, Lucroy started a three-run second with a two-out single, and he also helped guide Hamels through his overpowering performance.

“Look, baseball is baseball,” Lucroy said. “We’re out there playing and I honestly don’t care who’s in the other dugout. I’m going to go and give it all I got every single game, no matter who’s in that other dugout.”

The 34 hits allowed by Tomlin are the most in a season by an Indians pitcher since 1998, when Charles Nagy also gave up 34. Only Jim Perry (35 in 1960) and Luis Tiant (37 in 1969) have given up more in one season in a Cleveland uniform.

Tomlin (11-8) lost his fifth straight start in August, and has a 10.80 ERA in those games.

The second game of the four-game series between the teams is set for Friday night at Globe Life Park. Righty Corey Kluber (13-8, 3.13 ERA) is slated to take the mound for Cleveland, while lefty Martin Perez (8-9, 4.27 ERA) will start for the Rangers. Perez leads the American League with a 2.36 ERA through 13 home starts, and the Rangers are 12-5 in his last 17 outings.

ARLINGTON, TX – AUGUST 25: Cole Hamels #35 of the Texas Rangers throws against the Cleveland Indians in the second inning at Globe Life Park in Arlington on August 25, 2016 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Article by Pablo Mena