Rangers 3 - 4 Mariners
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Aug 6, 2015 - 7:35 PM (AP) - After the Texas Rangers finally had a good time at home, Cole Hamels looks to lead them to a fifth straight victory when he makes his second start for Texas on Friday night against the Seattle Mariners.

After struggling so much on their own field, the Rangers completed a three-game sweep of AL West-leading Houston on Wednesday that wrapped up a 7-3 homestand against three playoff contenders.

''It put a lot of energy in that dugout and on that field, and solidifies the belief in where these guys think they can go, the confidence they have,'' first-year manager Jeff Banister said. ''It was a big series for us.''

Texas (54-53) enjoyed a day off Thursday with a winning record for the first time since July 3. The Rangers have closed the gap on the Astros for the division lead and are in the thick of the crowded wild-card race.

''No one is running away with anything, and it's relatively early, but these are the things I feel you can get on a roll with,'' catcher Chris Gimenez said.

The only loss for Texas in the last eight games was Hamels' debut Saturday against San Francisco, even though the left-hander worked 7 2-3 innings and left with a three-run lead after allowing five runs.

Texas opened the homestand with back-to-back losses to the New York Yankees, including a 21-5 debacle after taking a 5-0 lead in the first inning. At that point, the Rangers had lost 12 of 13 home games, but they then won the last two for a series split.

The Rangers took two of three from the Giants before capping the sweep of the Astros with consecutive one-run victories.

While Texas is 23-29 with some confidence at home, its 31-24 record on the road matches the Chicago Cubs for the best in baseball.

The Rangers have 23 games left against the teams ahead of them in the AL West and race for the two wild cards (Houston, Los Angeles Angels, Toronto, Baltimore and Minnesota). They also have 10 games versus Tampa Bay and Detroit, the two teams behind them in the wild-card chase.

''From now on, that's the way we have to play, one day at a time, don't try to do too much and enjoy it,'' said shortstop Elvis Andrus, one of five Rangers remaining who were part of the 2010 and 2011 World Series appearances. ''It was a really great homestand for us, and we're going to carry that momentum.''

Texas won 3-1 in its first visit to Seattle on April 17 before losing the last two in that series and then getting swept in three at home later that month.

The Mariners (50-59) return home after failing to sweep a three-game set from Colorado with Wednesday's 7-5 loss in 11 innings. Seattle allowed the Rockies to tie it with two runs in the ninth before having a three-game win streak come to an end.

Nelson Cruz doubled and singled to extend his hitting streak to 16 but failed to homer for the first time in six games.

The Mariners will oppose Hamels with Hisashi Iwakuma (2-2, 4.47 ERA), who held the Twins scoreless through 8 1-3 innings Sunday before allowing a tying homer. Seattle went on to win 4-1 in 11.

''Unbelievable, and I told him he was unbelievable,'' manager Lloyd McClendon said. ''He just left one pitch up. Other than that, I mean, just an amazing outing.''

Iwakuma is 4-0 with a 2.62 ERA in his last five starts against Texas. Adrian Beltre has gone 11 for 30 with three homers when facing the right-hander.

Hamels has split two matchups against the Mariners behind a 3.97 ERA.






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