Cole Hamels

Rangers' Cole Hamels allows two earned runs over seven frames

Texas Rangers pitcher Cole Hamels started slow but finished strong Friday versus the Toronto Blue Jays, allowing four runs – two earned – over seven innings in a 6-4 extra-inning win.

What It Means:

Hamels was spotted a 2-0 lead before even taking the mound but proceeded to allow a home run in the bottom of the first and then two more in the second after his offense added another run. He exited the contest down 4-3 but watched the Rangers’ offense come back to eventually win it in extras. Texas will take a surprising 2-0 series lead back home.

Hamels will be in line to pitch Game 5 back in Toronto, if there is one. A midseason acquisition, Hamels ended 2015 with a 3.47 FIP while fanning 9.11 per nine innings. The strikeout rate is his best clip since 2006. He's pitched at least 183 innings in the last nine seasons.