6-5 - Rangers use big inning to save Hamels' bacon

The last time Cole Hamels took the mound for the Texas Rangers and the Rangers did not win the game (not counting a certain game north of the border where Canadians were the least polite they have ever been) was way back on August 07, 2015.

Since that day, the Rangers had gone 12-0 in regular season games started by Hamels. During that time frame, Hamels has personally gone 9-0 in those games, including 2-0 to begin this season in his two starts. All of those fun stats were in danger tonight as Hamels allowed three runs in 5 1/3 innings in the first start of his career with Texas where he didn't go at least six innings.

At the time Hamels exited, the Rangers trailed 3-1 and the offense looked like a team that had flown 2,000 miles after a week away from home. In the bottom of the inning, with Hamels on the line for the loss, all nine Rangers in the lineup stepped up to the plate and before the inning was over, the Rangers led 6-3 and never looked back.

And so, Tom Wilhelmsen picked up his first win as a Texas Ranger and Shawn Tolleson picked up the save as they bookended 3 2/3 scoreless innings along with Keone Kela and Sam Dyson to hand Baltimore their first losing streak of 2016.

Make it 13-0 for the Rangers and Hamels.

Player of the Game: It's hard to pick a best Ranger tonight since Hamels didn't have his Hamelsian best outing and the team spread out their ten hits. But, it's easy to pick Nomar Mazara going 2-4 in his home debut with a run and a RBI. His double to lead off the 6th ended up being the catalyst for the five run inning that put Texas ahead for good.

Up Next: The Rangers and Orioles come back for tomorrow night's Jackie Robinson Day affair with Martin Perez taking the hill for Texas. Baltimore will counter with RHP Vance Worley. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 pm CT.