Hamels Shuts Out Braves, Phillies Hit 3 Homers in Win
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Ace lefthander Cole Hamels was brilliant in pitching a 4 hit complete game shutout, his first career shutout, and the Phillies offense solved Braves Chuck James for 5 runs, including 3 homers, in 4 innings to win by a 5-0 score.
The 2nd place Phillies picked up ground in the NL East with the win, coupled with a Mets 1-0 loss to the Nationals and rain postponement of Florida’s game in Cincinnati. The Phils now trail the 1st place Marlins by 1 game and lead the Mets by 1 1/2 games. The Braves are in 4th place.
Hamels was dominating throughout the game. After 3rd baseman Omar Infante singled to rightfield with 1 out in the first inning, Hamels retired the next 15 hitters in a row before centerfielder Gregor Blanco singled to centerfield in the sixth inning. Hamels finished allowing only 4 hits, while walking 2 and striking out 6. Only two Atlanta runners reached second base through the entire game as Hamels, who tossed 120 pitches — 85 for strikes, lowered his ERA from 3.36 to 2.89 for the season.
The AP recap of the game for Yahoo sports notes these observations from Hamels and Phils’ manager Manuel about his performance;
“I’m happy because all along I’ve said sooner or later he was going to throw a shutout and close out the game,” Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said.
“I think throwing a lot of first pitch strikes helped keep my pitch count down,” he said.
Meanwhile, James, who escaped a one out bases loaded jam in the first inning, was solved by 3rd baseman Pedro Feliz for a lead off solo shot to leftfield in the second inning, by a one out 426 foot solo blast to centerfield by 1st baseman Ryan Howard and an RBI single by Feliz in the third and by rightfielder Shane Victorino’s 1 out, two run shot to leftfield in the fourth inning. James gave up 6 hits and walked 5 before heading to the showers.
The Braves bullpen took over in the fifth and held the Phils scoreless on 6 hits the rest of the way. Shortstop Jimmy Rollins, centerfielder Jayson Werth, Feliz and Hamels, who helped his cause with the bat as well as his arm, all had 2 hit games.
For all of the scores, boxscores and recaps on Thursday’s games, click here.
The Toronto Blue Jays come to town on Friday for 3 games as interleague play begins. Friday’s opener is another battle of lefthanders, with veteran 45 year old Jamie Moyer, working to get back on track after being pounded in his last start against the Giants. He is opposed by 26 year old rookie David Purcey.
On Saturday, Adam Eaton is opposed A.J. Burnett. In Sunday’s get-away game, Kyle Kendrick opposes Toronto’s ace Shaun Marcum with his 2.22 ERA and 8 plus innings in his last two starts. On Monday, the Phils begin a roadtrip with 3 games against the Washington Nationals.
For the scores, boxscores and recaps on Friday’s games, click here.
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