Hamels, Phillies Edge Cincinnati for 5th Straight Win
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Phils’ Ace lefthander Cole Hamels pitched 6 innings giving up 3 runs on 5 hits, the offense put just enough runs on the board against the Reds’ Johnny Cueto and the bullpen took care of the rest as the Phillies edged Cincinnati by a 4-3 score for their 5th straight win in Tuesday’s series opener.
The Phils win moved them into undisputed possession of 1st place in the NL East, 1 game ahead of the Mets who lost in Los Angeles to the Dodgers.
The Phillies got on the board first as 1st baseman Ryan Howard solved Cueto lining a second inning leadoff homer on a 2-2 pitch. The Phils had the chance to get more in the second as centerfielder Shane Victorino and 3rd baseman Pedro Feliz each singled. But catcher Carlos Ruiz flied out to leftfield and Hamels grounded out to the pitcher to end the threat.
Meanwhile, Hamels cruised through the first 3 2/3 inning retiring 11 of the first 12 hitters he faced before before rightfielder Jay Bruce knotted the score at 1-1 with a 2 out solo homer in fourth.
The Phils went up by 4-1 on Cueto in the fifth inning as Hamels helped his own cause with a single putting runners on 1st and 3rd with 1 out. Then shortstop Jimmy Rollins doubled in Feliz with the 2nd run followed by an RBI single to centerfield by 2nd baseman Chase Utley driving in Hamels with the 3rd. Leftfielder Raul Ibanez capped the Phils scoring with a sacrifice fly scoring Rollins.
The Reds closed the gap to 4-3 on Hamels in the sixth as 3rd baseman Jerry Hairston Jr. led off pounding a 2-2 pitch out to leftfield. 2nd baseman Brandon Phillips followed with a triple to rightfield. He scored on a sacrifice fly to right by catcher Ramon Hernandez. Hamels struck out the last hitter he faced to end the sixth inning.
Hamels’ line for 6 innings was 117 pitches, 3 runs while walking 2 and striking out 7 as he recorded his 2nd win of the season, evening his seasonal mark at 2-2. He is 4-0 lifetime against the Reds.
Then the bullpen took over as Clay Condrey and Ryan Madson shut down the Reds in the seventh and eighth innings and Brad Lidge surrendered a 1 out single and a walk in the ninth before striking out centerfielder Willie Taveras and retiring Hairston on a fly to center to end the game. Lidge recorded his 8th save of the season.
Cueto went seven innings in a losing cause giving up 4 runs on 7 hits while throwing 112 pitches and striking out 4 while walking none. The loss was his 1st of the season. He has 4 wins.
In other Phillies news, it’s now official that Chan Ho Park has been demoted to the bullpen after a series of attrocious outings with young lefthander J.A. Happ replacing him in the rotation.
For all of the scores of Monday’s and Tuesday’s games, click here and here.
On Wednesday, veteran lefthander Jamie Moyer hopes to improve on his previous poor outings. Another poor start and the same fate as Chan Ho Park could await him He is opposed by Aaron Harang for the Reds.
For all of Wednesday’s games, click here.
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