ARLINGTON, Texas — Cole Hamels struck out 12 over seven innings, and Adrian Beltre collected three hits and three RBIs as the Texas Rangers beat the Seattle Mariners 10-1 on Saturday night.
The Rangers maintained their 2 1/2-game AL West lead over the Houston Astros, who also won.
Hamels (10-8) gave up seven hits, including a second-inning home run by Franklin Gutierrez to center field, and walked none. He improved his record to 4-1 since being traded by the Philadelphia Phillies before the non-waiver trade deadline.
Beltre hit a two-run double with the bases loaded in the fourth and singled in a run in the fifth. He got on base his first four times up and reached in 10 consecutive plate appearances.
Mariners starter Vidal Nuno (1-3) lasted 3 1-3 innings, allowing four earned runs on five hits and four walks.
Since Aug. 2, Texas has gone 29-15 and erased an eight-game divisional deficit. The Rangers’ 12-6 record in September is the league’s best, one-half game better than Seattle and the Toronto Blue Jays.
Hamels’ 12 strikeouts marked his high in nine Texas starts. His season high is 13 for the Phillies, coming in his July 25 no-hitter against the Chicago Cubs.
Texas had 23 baserunners against eight Mariners pitchers.
Shin-Soo Choo reached base in his first five plate appearances. He had two hits, two walks and was hit by a pitch.
Chris Gimenez matched a season high with three RBIs.
Delino DeShields’ two hits included his 11th triple of the season, second most in team history. Ruben Sierra had 14 in 1989.
Last week in Seattle, Nuno shut out the Rangers over seven innings on one hit and two walks while striking out 10. Ketel Marte had two hits, both doubles, for the Mariners.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Mariners: Nelson Cruz was limited to DH duties for the ninth consecutive game because of a strained quadriceps muscle. Manager Lloyd McClendon said Cruz could return to right field during Seattle’s next series, at Kansas City.
Rangers: CF DeShields left the game in the seventh inning with a bruised left knee. The club called it a precautionary move.
UP NEXT
Seattle RHP Felix Hernandez (17-9) is 4-0 against Texas this season with a 1.57 ERA. He’ll make his 47th career start against the Rangers, the most against any opponent. Texas LHP Derek Holland (3-2) allowed five runs on 10 hits in 5 2-3 innings last Tuesday against Houston. His last four outings against Seattle, dating to August 2013, have been quality starts.
