SEATTLE -AP- Cole Hamels became the seventh active pitcher to reach 2,000 strikeouts and Mitch Moreland homered to lead the Texas Rangers to a 6-4 win against the Seattle Mariners on Sunday.The AL West-leading Rangers took two out of three games in the series against second-place Seattle to open up a season-high five-game division lead. The Rangers have won seven straight series and 12 of their last 15 games.Hamels (6-1) picked up strikeout No. 2,000 in the third inning when he got Leonys Martin swinging. It was one of five strikeouts for Hamels, who allowed one run on four hits in seven innings. 
Hamels has now lasted seven innings in each of his last three starts, although he ended up with no-decisions in the previous two. Hamels has won nine straight decisions against AL West opponents, and has won four straight against Seattle. He has given up one run or less in four of his 13 starts.Martin homered for the Mariners, who have now lost eight of their last 12 games. The solo shot in the fifth inning was Martin's 10th home run of the season.The Rangers took a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning. Elvis Andrus hit a run-scoring double down the third-base line, followed by Moreland's two-run home run. It was Moreland's ninth homer and third of the series -- he hit two against the Mariners on Friday.Texas picked up another three runs in the sixth. Andrus hit a RBI single, and Ian Desmond singled with the bases loaded to drive in two more.Seattle starter Wade Miley (6-3) allowed three runs on four hits in five innings and picked up his first loss since April 19. Miley had won his last six decisions.The Mariners showed some offensive life in the eighth inning after Hamels left, helped out by the Rangers bullpen. With two outs and the bases loaded, Jake Diekman hit Kyle Seager with a pitch and then walked Chris Iannetta two give Seattle two runs before Martin grounded out to end the inning.Sam Dyson pitched the ninth for his 10th save. Dyson gave up a run-scoring single to Robinson Cano with two outs, but Cano was thrown out trying for a double to end the game.
Hamels has now lasted seven innings in each of his last three starts, although he ended up with no-decisions in the previous two. Hamels has won nine straight decisions against AL West opponents, and has won four straight against Seattle. He has given up one run or less in four of his 13 starts.Martin homered for the Mariners, who have now lost eight of their last 12 games. The solo shot in the fifth inning was Martin's 10th home run of the season.The Rangers took a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning. Elvis Andrus hit a run-scoring double down the third-base line, followed by Moreland's two-run home run. It was Moreland's ninth homer and third of the series -- he hit two against the Mariners on Friday.Texas picked up another three runs in the sixth. Andrus hit a RBI single, and Ian Desmond singled with the bases loaded to drive in two more.Seattle starter Wade Miley (6-3) allowed three runs on four hits in five innings and picked up his first loss since April 19. Miley had won his last six decisions.The Mariners showed some offensive life in the eighth inning after Hamels left, helped out by the Rangers bullpen. With two outs and the bases loaded, Jake Diekman hit Kyle Seager with a pitch and then walked Chris Iannetta two give Seattle two runs before Martin grounded out to end the inning.Sam Dyson pitched the ninth for his 10th save. Dyson gave up a run-scoring single to Robinson Cano with two outs, but Cano was thrown out trying for a double to end the game.
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!
