45-45 - Good ol’ fashioned pitchers’ duel goes to Texas

A brisk two and a half hour 1-0 game? What is this, 1968? Two of the better left-handed pitchers in the American League got together for a fantastic duel with Danny Duffy and Cole Hamels tossing alternating zeros for much of the night.

It wasn’t until the top of the ninth that the game’s lone run came around to score when Jonathan Lucroy led off the inning with a dinker into right field for a single. After Joey Gallo came in to pinch run, Delino DeShields hit a tricky sac bunt that Duffy made a good play on.

With the first runner in scoring position for Texas since the second inning, the Rangers finally came through off Duffy via an RBI single by Shin-Soo Choo.

The Rangers have now taken all six games against the Royals this season with tomorrow’s finale being the final game of the year between the two teams. Texas is back to .500 for the first time since they were 39-39 to begin June 29.

Player of the Game: They unbroke Cole Hamels! After allowing two runs in the first inning back on July 1, Hamels has gone 21 ¹⁄₃ innings without allowing a run.

Tonight, Hamels went 7 ²⁄₃ scoreless allowing just four hits with only one walk (inexplicably to Alcides Escobar) while striking out five Royals hitters.

Up Next: The Rangers and Royals close out this series with Texas going for a sweep of the season series against Kansas City. All-Star Yu Darvish will make his second half debut against RHP Ian Kennedy of KC. First pitch of the finale is scheduled for 1:15 pm CT.