Rangers clinch AL West with win against Athletics

Omnisports 04:20 - 24 September 2016

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Cole Hamels pitched a gem against the Oakland Athletics to help the Texas Rangers clinch their division.

The Texas Rangers clinched the American League (AL) West on Friday after beating the Oakland Athletics 3-0 on the road.

Cole Hamels led the way by tossing seven shutout innings with seven strikeouts to improve to 15-5 this season.

He was pitted in a difficult pitcher's duel early, as Kendall Graveman took a perfect game into the seventh inning, but the Rangers' bats came alive to score all three of their runs in that inning.

Carlos Gomez broke up the perfect game with a single, then Adrian Beltre hit a home run later in the inning to seal the deal.

Texas, who have now won back-to-back division titles, have been crowned champions out west in four of the last seven seasons.