Mitch Moreland’s second home run of the game broke a tie in the eighth inning and Cole Hamels earned his 12th win of the season as the Texas Rangers beat the Kansas City Royals 3-2 on Thursday night.
Hamels (12-2) allowed two runs and six hits in eight innings, matching his longest start of the season. His 123 pitches were 10 more than his previous high for the year. He didn’t allow an earned run in his previous two starts, totaling 13 1/3 innings.
Sam Dyson earned his 21st save in 23 opportunities, stranding the tying run at third base.
Both homers by the left-handed hitting Moreland were to the opposite field and came off Yordano Ventura (6-9). It was Moreland’s 10th career multi-homer game and second of the season. He has five homers in his last 11 hits.
