:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/55541319/usa-today-10139137.0.jpg)
Well this game seemed similar to last night's game except today's game was good whereas last night's game was bad. Cole Hamels allowed two runs on a home run to the White Sox's only good player in the first inning and the Rangers failed to get a hit with the bases loaded and nobody out situation against old friend Derek Holland.
Here's the difference, though:
2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 BBs 6 Ks on 96 pitches in 6 2/3 innings. That's Cole Hamels' line today. Hamels retired the last 19 batters he faced and looked like the Hamels from 2015 instead of the Hamels from April 2017.
And while Alex Claudio allowed two runs in the seventh upon Hamels' exit, the Rangers did another thing unlike yesterday: They piled on.
Up 6-4 with bootyholes tightening at the prospect of needing six more outs from the beleaguered bullpen, the Rangers plated four runs in the top of the eighth to snuff out any hopes for a rally from the White Sox on this day.
Player of the Game: Hey look, I always thought the style of play Ron Washington pounded into a young and impressionable Elvis Andrus diminished what Elvis was capable of in his early years. Ron Washington wanted Elvis to be a 1980s National League style leadoff hitter with 100 slap or bunt hits a season. Elvis was always meant to be a line drive hitter before he was suppressed.
That said, if there were ever proof that the ball is indeed juiced, look no further than the fact that Elvis has 11 bombs this year at exactly the halfway point of the season.
Today Elvis went deep with a two-run shot off Holland to break a 2-2 tie in the fifth and added another run scored after reaching via a walk. Elvis is gunning for a 20 HR/40 steal season and is on pace to score 100 runs and drive in 100 and should honestly be an All-Star.
Up Next: The Rangers and White Sox will close out this series with Tyson Ross set to face LHP Jose Quintana. It's another day game with first pitch scheduled for 1:10 pm CT.