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Three takeaways, including another strong start by Cole Hamels, from the Rangers' win over Kansas City

ARLINGTON -- Takeaways and observations from the Rangers' 3-2 win against Kansas City on Thursday at Globe Life Park:

Three Takeaways

DEEP START: Starter Cole Hamels held the Royals to two runs in eight innings. He threw 123 pitches, his most since a 129-pitch performance in a no-hitter against the Chicago Cubs on July 25, 2015, while with Philadelphia.

OPPOSITE FIELD POWER: Mitch Moreland hit two opposite-field homer to center, including the game-winner in the eighth inning. When Moreland is at his best, he uses the opposite field. He has five homers in his last 32 at-bats.

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GAME-SAVING PLAY: In the ninth, second baseman Rougned Odor was in the proper position to field an over-throw by catcher Robinson Chirinos on Jarrod Dyson's steal of second. Dyson had to hold at second and did not score. It was the second time in the game that Odor reached an overthrow.

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The Breakdown

The arms: LHP Cole Hamels held Kansas City to one hit in 12 at-bats with runners on base. For the season, opponents are hitting only .231 against Hamels with men on base. ... Hamels allowed one walk in eight innings. He has allowed only four walks in 21 1/3 innings for his last three starts.

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The bats: In the second, Rougned Odor hit his 18 homer of the season while playing second base. It is third-highest total in the American League when playing second. ... LF Delino DeShields was hitless for three at-bats in the lead-off spot. Since the All-Star break, Rangers lead-off hitters have a .191 on-base percentage for 47 plate appearances.

The gloves: In the second, CF Ian Desmond charged forward to make shoelaces-high catch of Alex Gordon's liner. ... In the third, Odor ran down an error throw from 1B Mitch Moreland on Raul Mondesi's steal of second and threw him out trying to advance to third on the play. ... In the seventh, 3B Adrian Beltre got Hamels out of the inning with a leaping catch of Drew Butera's liner.

The legs: In the third, C Robinson Chirinos was thrown out at second on a failed hit-and-run play. ... In the seventh, Odor went into first base with a head-first slide trying to beat out a grounder. He was out on replay.

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Scoring Highlights 

KANSAS CITY SECOND: Paulo Orlando, coming off a three-hit game, led off with a homer to left. Royals 1, Rangers 0.

RANGERS SECOND: Rougned Odor led off with a homer to right. Rangers 1, Royals 1.

KANSAS CITY FIFTH: Alex Gordon went from first to third on Brett Eibner's single, allowing him to score on Raul Mondesi's grounder. Royals 2, Rangers 1.

RANGERS FIFTH: Mitch Moreland went to the opposite field for a game-tying homer. It was his second homer in a span of six at-bats. Rangers 2, Royals 2.

RANGERS EIGHTH: Moreland again went to the opposite field for his second homer off starter Yordano Ventura. It was Moreland' second two-homer game of the season. Rangers 3, Royals 2.