Hamels Wins 14th as Phillies Clip Nationals in Finale
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Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz went 2 for 2 including a one-out, two-run homer in the 2nd inning to stake lefthander Cole Hamels to a 2-0 lead which Hamels held onto through 6 2/3 innings before being lifted for reliever Antonio Alfonseca with closer Brett Myers picking up his 11th save as the Phillies held on to defeat the Washington Nationals by a 4-2 score, taking 2 of the 3 games of the series.
With the win, the Phillies bounced back into 2nd place, 3 games behind the Mets and 1/2 game ahead of the Braves who both lost, and returned to 2nd place in the NL Wild Card race, still a game behind the San Diego Padres who also won.
Hamels’ 14th win ties him with Chicago’s Carlos Zambrano for the NL league lead in wins. With 1 1/2 months left to the season, Hamels seems a good bet for the coveted 20 win plateau.
The Phillies offense continued its lackadaisical output in this series, only manufacturing 4 runs despite 9 hits and 5 walks issued them, 4 by starter and losing pitcher Joel Hanrahan in his 5 innings of work. The Phils left 10 on base.
AP Sports Writer Joseph White recaps the game’s scoring for Yahoo sports;
Carlos Ruiz hit a two-run home run in the second, and Ryan Howard and pinch-hitter Greg Dobbs had RBIs for the Phillies, who took two of three from the Nationals without much offensive punch. Philadelphia scored nine runs and struck out 36 times in the series — 12 times in each game.
“That is pretty good isn’t it?” manager Charlie Manuel said with sarcasm. “We can talk to them, but you have to be careful what you say. I don’t want them to be too tight. You have to stay positive and battle through it. Our pitching has been good enough to win, and that is what counts.”
Hanrahan allowed Ruiz’s homer following a walk to [Jayson] Werth in the second. Ruiz hit a 1-0 fastball to left center for his fourth home run and his first since May 15 — a span of 176 at-bats.
Hamels allowed only a double by Ronnie Belliard in the first inning and a single by Austin Kearns in the second before the Nationals chased him in the seventh. Kearns led off with a double, and Nook Logan got on with a two-out bunt single.
Antonio Alfonseca entered the game and walked pinch hitter Tony Batista, loading the bases, but then pumped his fist after striking out Felipe Lopez to end the inning.
But the Phillies nearly blew their 4-0 lead in the eighth. Tom Gordon gave up home runs to Belliard and Dmitri Young and walked Kearns before being replaced by J.C. Romero. Romero allowed a single by Ryan Church, but the inning ended on a double play when right fielder Chris Roberson caught a liner and threw to second to double off Kearns, whose right hamstring had cramped just as he tried to reverse direction to get back to the base.
Tom Gordon was pounded and seems to have nothing left in the tank. He seems a liability in any relief role for this club down the stretch as the Phillies make their move toward charging past the Mets. Myers, on the other hand, put up his second straight dminating, intimidating appearance in this series to save both Phillies’ victories.
The scoreless string put up by the Phils’ bullpen reached 14 1/3 innings before Gordon was pounded by Ronnie Belliard and Dmitri Young.
For the scores, boxscores on this and all of Thursday’s games, click here.
The Phils head for Pittsburgh opening a 3 game series on Friday as J.D. Durbin, who replaces the injured Adam Eaton in the starting rotation, faces lefthander Tom Gorzelanny, who seeks win #12 against 6 losses, in the opener.
Saturday’ game two is a battle of veteran lefthanders as 44 yo Jamie Moyer, going for his 12th win, opposes the younger 35 yo Paul Maholm. In Sunday’s finale, newly acquired Kyle Lohse faces Ian Snell.
Following the Pittsburgh series, the Phillies return home to Citzens Bank Stadium for 10 crucial games; 3 with the Los Angeles Dodgers beginning Tuesday, followed by 3 games with the San Diego Padres, with the NL Wild Card lead up for grabs, next weekend, followed by a climatic 4 game confrontation with the NL East leading New York Mets.
For the scores, boxscores on all of Friday’s games, click here.
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