Phillies Thump Team Canada, Hamels Sharp in Spring Debut
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Outfielding prospects John Mayberry and Jeremy Slayden continue to make noise in training camp, both hitting homers; 2 run and 3 run shots respectively, while 1st baseman Ryan Howard went 2 for 2 with an RBI and ace lefthander Cole Hamels was sharp in his first outing of the spring as the Phillies scored runs in bunches to beat Team Canada by a 9-2 score Wednesday in Clearwater, Pla.
The AP report for Yahoo sports provides background and detail on the Phils, Team Canada match-up:
“It was nice to get out there against a team that’s competitive,” said Hamels, who went 4-0 with a 1.80 ERA in five postseason starts in October. “These hitters are getting ready for the world classic and they want to be in prime hitting shape. (So it was about) knowing how to bear down, finding the location and throwing your pitch.”
Against Canada, the 25-year-old lefty breezed through his outing with 24 pitches.
The Phillies held Hamels back earlier this spring because he threw a career-high 262 1-3 innings in the regular season and playoffs combined last season, more than any other pitcher in baseball.
“I just wanted him to get his feet on the ground, get his delivery in, his reps in,” Phillies pitching coach Rich Dubee said. “This is his first whack, he’s got five more outings (down here) and today was great. … it was good to see him on the mound, compete under control and get the required work in that he needed.”
Hamels allowed the first two batters of the game to reach base, but escaped unharmed when he got Joey Votto to pop to short and Justin Morneau followed with an inning-ending double play. In the second, Hamels retired three of the four batter, including Phillies teammate Matt Stairs, who grounded out to first base.
On April 5 against the Atlanta Braves, Hamels will take the mound in the first opening day start of his career, hoping to live up to the hype he produced in the postseason last fall.
Newcomer Raul Ibanez hit a bases-clearing double to left-center off [Team Canada starter] Vince Perkins to put the Phils in front 3-0. Ibanez has seven RBIs in six spring training games.
Ryan Howard (2-for-2) followed Ibanez with a sharp single to right to make it 4-0. Howard has five RBIs in six games.
“He’s swinging good right now,” Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said of Howard.
The Phillies had 10 hits against a Canadian pitching staff that’s tuning up for Saturday night’s World Baseball Classic opener against the United States.
Right fielder Jayson Werth (shoulder) was held out of the starting lineup. Werth hasn’t played in a spring training game yet, but is expected to play in a B game Friday against the Toronto Blue Jays.
The Phils scored 4 runs in the 3rd inning, 2 runs in the 4th and 3 more in the 7th. Reliever Dave Borkowski pitched a perfect 3 up/3 down 3rd inning to notch the win while starter Perkins, who gave up 2 runs on 2 hits while walking 2 and striking out 3, took the loss for the Canadians.
For all of the results of spring training play for Tuesday and Wednesday, click here and here.
MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki reports:
The Phillies host Team USA at noon Thursday at Bright House Field in Clearwater, Fla. Right-hander Kyle Kendrick, who is competing for a spot in the Phils’ rotation, will get the nod.
For all of Thursday’s scheduled exhibition games and World Baseball Classic games as well, click here.
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