The streak was bound to end at some point, and on Sunday afternoon that day came.
Cole Hamels pitched for the Rangers, and the Rangers lost a regular-season game. It was something that hadn't happened since Aug. 7 of last season — Hamels' second start as a Ranger. In fact, the team lost his first two starts before he reeled off 10 straight Rangers wins to close the season and had four wins in his first four starts this year.
The fifth wasn't to be.
Hamels was wild, by his standards, and had trouble with the walk in key situations. In the end, it cost him dearly as he gave up four runs with his four strikeouts and four walks and he lasted just five innings. He didn't take the loss and kept his 10-game win streak alive in games in which he earned a decision. Sunday also marked the first time as a Ranger that Hamels failed to go at least six innings.
"I just can't walk that many guys, I've got to challenge them," Hamels said. "Even though they are a good team, you just have to make them earn the bases.
"I just wasn't able to get the consistency of my two-seamer. It was moving in a couple different directions on my release point, so I just wasn't able to harness that and get that understanding of where to actually throw it and then let it move. It was kind of going all over the place."
All of this might have had to do with the fact Hamels missed his last scheduled start on Tuesday with a minor groin strain, so there could've been some rust, but who knows. The bottom line is, Hamels' streak is over and now he'll look to start a new one his next time out against the Tigers in Detroit.
