Cole Hamels pitched like an ace in last night’s 4-1 victory over Oakland.

Nine in a row. That’s how long the Rangers losing streak in Oakland was coming into last night’s game.

Eight in a row. That’s how many outs recorded in a row by strikeouts that Cole Hamels was able to get last night.

Some streaks aren’t good. Some streaks are. Now the Rangers have a streak of two great starts in a row. And a one-game winning streak.

That’s because Hamels was very good. He struck out eleven total and gave up just one run. It was a welcome start after his opening day struggles.

It was vintage Cole Hamels. And it was the second-most strikeouts he has recorded in a game as a Ranger, twice getting twelve.

The key to respectability this year for the Rangers is Cole Hamels. When you have a team with a number one starter and five number fives, you need your number one to pitch like a number one.

Hamels had his change up and two-seam fastball working well tonight.

Combine that with Rougned Odor getting two hits to up his season total to three, and the Rangers had things going their way in a 4-1 victory in Oakland, just their second win of the season.

This team goes as far as Cole Hamels goes. Last night, Hamels put them on his shoulders and exorcize the demons of Oakland.

Here’s hoping for more of that.

*****
TODAY’S GAME:

Doug Fister (1-0, 1.80) vs. Sean Manaea (0-1, 1.17)
Game time: 9:05

How the Rangers hit against Manaea.
How the Athletics hit against Fister.