Hamels Outduels Zimmermann As Rangers Beat Tigers, 5-1
NOAH TRISTER
AP Baseball Writer
DETROIT (AP) — Cole Hamels held Detroit to one hit in seven scoreless innings, and the Texas Rangers became the first team this season to beat Jordan Zimmermann when they topped the Tigers 5-1 on Friday night.
Hamels (4-0) allowed a bloop single to right by Ian Kinsler — the first batter he faced — and that was Detroit's only hit until Kinsler doubled to lead off the bottom of the ninth. The Tigers managed a couple walks off Hamels, but he struck out nine and won his 11th straight decision. He hasn't lost since Aug. 7.
Zimmermann (5-1) allowed two runs in the second — after giving up only two earned runs all season prior to that. He also allowed a solo homer to Rougned Odor in the fifth, and by the end of the night, his ERA had doubled from 0.55 to 1.10.
Both teams came into the game with three-game losing streaks, each hoping its standout on the mound could rectify that.
Zimmermann breezed through the first five Texas hitters, but the Rangers scored twice with two outs in the second. Mitch Moreland singled and scored on a double by Elvis Andrus, and Bobby Wilson added an RBI single.
Odor's drive to right in the fifth landed near the back of the lower level of seats. His fifth homer of the year made it 3-0. Odor added a two-run single in the ninth off reliever Justin Wilson.
J.D. Martinez was given the night off for the Tigers, and Detroit's home fans had little to cheer about. They did give Tigers catcher James McCann a nice hand in the fourth, when he went tumbling head first over the railing into a camera well next to the Detroit dugout.
McCann was trying unsuccessfully to catch a foul popup. He looked fine after the acrobatic fall and stayed in the game.
Zimmermann allowed three runs and seven hits in eight innings.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rangers: OF Shin-Soo Choo (right calf strain) took batting practice Thursday and also ran the bases.
Tigers: RHP Shane Greene (right middle finger blister) may have his return delayed after his finger started bleeding when he threw Thursday.
UP NEXT
Rangers: A.J. Griffin (3-0) takes the mound on Saturday against the Tigers. Opponents are hitting .180 off him this season.
Tigers: Mike Pelfrey (0-4) tries again for his first win since signing with Detroit in the offseason.
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