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Three takeaways: The Big Chill heats up as Rangers survive against Kansas City 

Takeaways and observations from the Rangers' 7-4 win Saturday over Kansas City:

Cold front: Is The Big Chill heating back up? After an extended slump that dropped his batting average to a season-low .277, Nomar Mazara has hit in five straight games, going 8 for 17 (.471), and has reached base 11 times in his last 20 plate appearances. He hit his first homer in 27 games Saturday to give the Rangers the lead then had another RBI to give him three for the night.

Bank on Barnette: A one-inning guy in Japan, RHP Tony Barnette has become the Rangers' multi-out bridge to the back end of the bullpen. He pitched 12/3 perfect innings Saturday to extend his scoreless streak to 192/3 innings, dating back to June 19. Perhaps most significant: Nine of those 13 outings have been more than one inning.

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One year: Though the anniversary of his trade to the Rangers is next week, consider Saturday as Cole Hamels' one-year equivalency date with Texas. Over his last eight full seasons, he has averaged 32 starts per season. On Saturday, he made his 32nd start as a member of the Rangers: The numbers: an 18-3 record, 209 innings pitched, 198 strikeouts and 3.23 ERA.

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Breakdown

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The arms: LHP Cole Hamels used 105 pitches in 51/3 innings. It was the fourth time he'd thrown at least that many pitches in an outing of less than six innings. The Rangers, however, have won all four. ... RHP Matt Bush has worked nine consecutive scoreless innings. He has 20 strikeouts in his last 191/3 innings.

The bats: 1B Mitch Moreland worked his way to a 10-pitch walk to load the bases in the fourth inning. C Robinson Chirinos, however, bounced out to end the inning. It extended the Rangers' hitless streak with the bases loaded to 10 at-bats dating to July 3. ... The Rangers' seven runs matched the high for July, which they hadn't accomplished since July 5 at Boston.

The gloves: 2B Rougned Odor, who has been working 1 on 1 with coach Tony Beasley, made a lunging grab of Paulo Orlando's liner to end the second inning. He made a similar play for the second out of the fifth. ... When RF Nomar Mazara fumbled a ball in the corner, it went as the first error of his career after 200 chances. ... The Rangers made three errors, matching the season high. They have had six three-error games, half of them since July 6.

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SCORING HIGHLIGHTS

ROYALS FIRST

Cheslor Cuthbert doubled into the right-field corner and went to third when Nomar Mazara couldn't handle the bounce off Kansas City's rounded walls. Cuthbert scored on a groundout.

Royals 1, Rangers 0

RANGERS FOURTH

Jurickson Profar took a walk to start the inning. Nomar Mazara followed with a homer to center field on a 3-1 pitch.

Rangers 2, Royals 1

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RANGERS FIFTH 

Mazara doubled to score Delino DeShields, who'd led off the inning with a walk.

Rangers 3, Royals 1

RANGERS SEVENTH

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Robinson Chirinos walked to lead off the inning but was in danger of being stranded at third with two outs before Ian Desmond singled through the right side and Adrian Beltre blasted a three-run homer to left.

Rangers 7, Royals 1

ROYALS NINTH

Three ground-ball singles against Shawn Tolleson produced a run. A second run scored when Eric Hosmer beat out an infield single with a headfirst slide. Then Sam Dyson walked Kendrys Morales to force in another. But Dyson got Sal Perez to bounce into a double play.

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Rangers 7, Royals 4