ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. _ Cole Hamels had never pitched a regular-season game at Tropicana Field, but he pitched and won the opener of the 2007 World Series en route to MVP honors.
The home of the Tampa Bay Rays was far more docile Friday night as returned to the Trop than for the Fall Classic, with far fewer people in the stands and far fewer cowbells.
"The last time I was here the fans were awesome," Hamels said. "Pretty important game. You're hearing about 50,000 bells as opposed to the 10 or 11 that were here."
The Rays are also far more docile this season than the Joe Maddon-led teams that made the postseason a habit. Hamels, though, seems to be getting better with another crack at the World Series at stake.
The left-hander flirted with a no-hitter in the opener of a three-game series, taking his bid into the sixth inning before settling for three hits, one run and 10 strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings of the Texas Rangers' 6-2 victory.
"I've always tried to play a season out and build upon each month, and that's how I pace myself," Hamels said. "In the sprinting world, I guess that's that kick. That's how I've always looked at the game of baseball and how it is a marathon, and then in the end you have to put in that kick."
Third baseman Adrian Beltre went 4 for 5 and swatted two home runs the day after his grandfather passed away. Beltre didn't speak to the media, but his contributions helped the Rangers put away the Rays.
Beltre connected off Matt Andriese to start a three-run sixth, and drilled another homer to start the seventh. Beltre has 12 20-homer seasons in his career, tied with Chipper Jones for third all-time among third basemen, and with 434 career homers he is tied with former Rangers Juan Gonzalez and Andruw Jones for 45th all-time.
"Just a special night by our captain," manager Jeff Banister said. "What can you say? The two home runs were huge. When he's doing things like that it gives our club great confidence and the energy to really go out and play hard."
First baseman Mitch Moreland started the scoring with a home run to open a two-run fifth, and Elvis Andrus took advantage of a lackadaisical throw by center fielder Mikie Mahtook to score from first on an Ian Desmond single.
"I think it's kind of cool, man," Andrus said. "Every time you score a run on a play that usually doesn't happen, I think that it gives excitement to everybody. After that happened, we were able to score some more runs and give a little space to Cole."
Hamels' toughest inning was the first, which was extended by a two-out throwing error on Beltre and one of Hamels' two walks. He got Matt Duffy to bounce to Beltre to escape the inning and for the first of 15 consecutive outs.
But Corey Dickerson, the Rays' fifth outfielder used in the first five innings, singled up the middle on a fastball that Hamels said was the wrong pitch. Hamels admitted that he was frustrated by the hit, but moreso because he didn't follow the game plan than because he lost no-hitter.
"I ran through my stop sign," Hamels said. "That intuition that kind of creeps at you and bangs on the door every once in a while in your head, you have to step off and listen to and I didn't. I just wanted to try to challenge Dickerson, and he got me."
Hamels (13-4, 2.80 ERA) lost his shutout bid when Steven Souza Jr. started the eighth with a long home run to left field. Hamels, though, got Bobby Wilson swinging for his final out and 10th strikeout.
The performance registered his first win since July 28 and improved to 4-2 with a 1.85 ERA in seven starts since the All-Star break. He's also 9-2 with a 1.91 ERA in 14 road starts and tied with the Cubs' Jake Arrieta for the MLB lead in road wins.
"He seemed to be in control all night long," Banister said. "He really didn't find his cutter until about the third inning, and it was a fastball-curveball-change mix early that really kept these guys off balance."
Hamels, even in allowing 14 hits in seven innings in his last start, has been in control since the second half started last month and was down the stretch last year as well.
He knows the playoffs are on the line, and he seems to be getting better with another crack at the World Series at stake.
"The end of the year is when you're trying to make your push to either solidify the chance at the postseason, and then you want to be at your best in the postseason," Hamels said. "I've always tried to adhere to that."
