CHICAGO -- Nearly a year after throwing a no-hitter at Wrigley Field, Cole Hamels was masterful again in his return to the famed ballpark.Hamels pitched eight dominant innings, and the Texas Rangers stopped a four-game slide by topping the Chicago Cubs 4-1 Sunday in a matchup of division leaders.I got 10 days of rest. You get a whole week of rest, I guess that helps, Hamels said. I know its the second half, want to start off right. This is now the go time.Hamels (10-2) struck out his first six batters. He fanned seven overall and gave up just an unearned run on four hits.The fastball, the cutter allowed him to get to the changeup today, and he was really exceptional, Rangers manager Jeff Banister said.Last summer, the lefty threw a no-hitter and struck out 13 at Wrigley in his final start for Philadelphia. He was then traded to the Rangers.Ive always enjoyed coming to Wrigley Field, Hamels said. Growing up as a kid watching it on WGN, its just a great ballpark to come play at. The fans are great here. Im just going out enjoying the moment.Sam Dyson struck out three in the ninth for his 19th save in 21 chances.Ian Desmond homered and Robinson Chirinos drove in two runs as Texas avoided a three-game sweep. The Cubs had won three in a row.John Lackey (7-6) allowed four runs and six hits in eight innings as his winless streak reached seven starts on a warm afternoon with the wind blowing out. He is 14-16 in 41 starts against Texas, the team hes faced most often in his career.The story really today was Cole. He pitched really well, Lackey said. We werent able to do anything against him. I was honestly pretty happy about the way I threw the ball. Threw eight innings and definitely not a good day to pitch.Hamels fanned the side in the first two innings.I was able to execute pretty well, Hamels said. Sometimes things just work enough to miss the barrels. If you can go out and really establish the strike zone early, they cant get as comfortable.The streak ended when Matt Szczur popped out and Albert Almora Jr. reached on third baseman Adrian Beltres error in the third. Javier Baez doubled home a run.Elvis Andrus RBI single and Chirinos sacrifice fly put the Rangers ahead in the second. Almora made a leaping catch in center field to rob Chirinos of extra bases.Chirinos hit an RBI double after Lackey walked the first two batters in the fourth.Desmond led off the eighth with his 16th home run.The Cubs got back-to-back singles to start the bottom of the seventh before a double play and groundout ended the rally.Cole did exactly what we needed today, and we got hits when they counted and we were able to get the win, first baseman Prince Fielder said. Good defense, great win all around.We needed it really bad. Weve been struggling as a team.TRAINERS ROOMRangers: OF Shin-Soo Choo (back) was out of the lineup for a third straight game, but Banister said the team isnt considering putting him on the disabled list just yet. It still seems to bother him when hes throwing, Banister said. . RHP Kyle Lohse (strained oblique) threw a pain-free bullpen session Saturday. Banister expects him to start Tuesday at the Angels.DRAMALackey argued with home plate umpire Cory Blaser after the top of the sixth before right fielder Jason Heyward got between them. Cubs manager Joe Maddon then addressed Blaser. Lackey declined to go into details of the chat.Theyre talking about Christmas cards for next year, Maddon joked. Just let John vent a little bit. Hes fine.UP NEXTRangers: RHP A.J. Griffin (3-1, 3.81 ERA) is scheduled to start Mondays opener of a three-game series at the Angels, who are expected to start RHP Nick Tropeano (3-2, 3.12).Cubs: LHP Jon Lester (9-4, 3.01) is to start Mondays opener of a three-game set against the visiting Mets and LHP Steven Matz (7-5, 3.38). Lester allowed a season-high eight runs in a career-low 1 1/3 innings in his other start against New York this season. Swell Bottle Butikk . It was the kind of score that might make everyone else wonder which course he was playing. Except that Graeme McDowell saw the whole thing. Crouched behind the 10th green at Sheshan International, McDowell looked over at the powerful American and said, "Ive probably seen 18 of the best drives Ive seen all year in the last two days. Swell Flaske Norge . The team also announced Tuesday that the Braves will wear a commemorative patch on the right sleeve during the season. The patch, shaped like home plate, carries the number 715, Aarons autograph and a "40th Anniversary" banner. http://www.swellflaskenorge.com/swell-flaske-marmor.html . The Dutchmans tenure got off to a poor start when referee Guido Winkmann awarded a penalty within two minutes for Niklas Starks clumsy challenge on Alexandru Maxim. Swell Flaske Blomster . Manuel was offered a position the day he was fired. He accepted earlier this week and the team made the announcement Friday. Swell Flaske Blå Marmor . -- When the Florida Panthers fell behind by two goals in the first period to the top team in the NHL, it appeared they were on their way to yet another loss. Greater Western Sydney are the Lamborghini of the AFLs fleet.Thats how Richmond coach Damien Hardwick described the burgeoning club after his sides 88-point belting in Canberra.Until Saturday, the Giants had never beaten the Tigers in their short history.And they did it in spectacular fashion in front of a record crowd at Manuka Oval to keep hold of second place on the ladder on percentage and all but secure a maiden finals berth.They booted the opening nine goals of the game and limited their Melbourne rivals to just one behind in both the first and fourth quarters in the 17.9 (111) to 3.5 (23) victory.Their 51-1 lead at the end of the first term marked their biggest - eclipsing their record 45-point haul in round six against Hawthorn in Sydney.For Richmond, though, it was their lowest score since 1961 and equal sixth-worst in club history.Were really rapt and pleased with our boys in their third week on the road, Giants coach Leon Cameron said.I didnt see the first quarter coming like that but, when it comes around, you take it.I thought our boys then played really good defensive footy from quarter-time onwards.Its the first time GWS have completed a sweep in the nations capital, their second home behind Sydneys Spotless Stadium, having toppled Port Adelaide and Geelong earlieer this season.ddddddddddddSteve Johnson, Toby Greene and Sam Reid led the way with three goals apiece, while Jeremy Cameron and Tom Scully had two each in perfect conditions.There is some concern about Rory Lobb, however, after injuring his ankle in the third term.I dont think theres big concerns at the moment but hes obviously a really important part of our structure and well be taking no risks, Cameron said.Well find out tomorrow, assess where its at and, hopefully, hes a chance to play next week.Jack Riewoldt and Sam Lloyd were Richmonds only goal-kickers, with Riewoldt booting two - including the teams first, not until seven minutes into the second quarter. Hardwick admitted his men couldnt keep up with GWS, whom he labelled incredible.Theyre a Lamborghini, arent they? he said.You look at the strength of their talent across the board and its superior. Weve got some worries; theyve got no concerns at this stage. Theyre a very good football side.Its great for GWS and Sydney, but is it great for the competition when, geez, theyre just bloody good?The Tigers host Collingwood on Friday, while GWS travel to the Gold Coast to play the Suns a day later. ' ' '