ARLINGTON, Texas _ Robinson Chirinos and Joey Gallo each hit a pair of homers and Cole Hamels pitched his best game of the young season as the Rangers beat the Royals, 6-2, Friday night at Globe Life Park.
Hamels retired 12 consecutive batters after allowing a first-inning run. He hit leadoff hitter Alex Gordon and Lorenzo Cain's double to right-center field gave the Royals a quick 1-0 lead. He's the first Rangers' starter to pitch into the eighth this season. It was especially fortuitous because the Rangers used six relievers in Thursday's 13-inning game. Jeremy Jeffress allowed a run in the ninth before getting a 6-4-3 double play to end it.
The Rangers homered twice and scored three runs in the second inning to take a 3-1 lead. Robinson Chirinos homered with one out before Jurickson Profar walked to set up Joey Gallo's two-run homer to right. Statcast estimated Gallo's homer at 462 feet and 116 mph off the bat. Chirinos homered again in the fourth to give the Rangers a 4-1 lead. Gallo homered again in the fifth for a 5-1 lead.
