Hamels Sparkles, Brown Hits 2 HRs, Phillies Beat Tigers
|
|
|
|
|
Prospect outfielder Domonic Brown clubbed 2 homers and drove in 4 runs while going 3 for 3 and 1st Baseman Ryan Howard clubbed a 3 run homer as the Phillies pounded Detroit Tigers starter Dustin Verlander and a reliever on Tuesday. Although the Tigers scored a third inning run, lefthander Cole Hamels sparkled with a five inning 2 hitter and Brown hit 2 homers as the Phillies beat the Tigers by a 6-1 score.
Hamels threw five innings of 1 run, 2 hit ball while striking out 4 and relievers Ryan Madson, Antonio Bastardo, Danys Baez as well as spring invitee B.J. Rosenberg followed by combining for four innings of scoreless ball with only 2 Tigers reaching base. Four other Tiger relievers held the Phils scoreless on 3 hits and 2 walks over the final 3 1/3 innings.
The AP recap for Yahoo sports notes:
Ryan Howard hit his first home run of the spring…
Hamels held the Tigers to an unearned run and two hits in five innings. He struck out four and walked none.
Howard launched a two-run drive off Justin Verlander. Brown also connected against the Tigers ace and finished 3 for 3 with a walk and four RBIs.
“I’m kind of speechless,” Brown said. “I’m just trying to go out there and play hard and let the rest take care of itself.”
“When you have a good at-bat against an ace, that does good things for you,” Howard said of Brown’s home run off Verlander. “I think he’s going to start to see that he can play at this level.”
Brown’s big day wasn’t the only encouraging development for the defending National League champions.
Hamels, who struggled to find consistency throughout the 2009 season, used his revamped repertoire to lower his spring ERA to 1.69 after three starts.
Hamels retired the Tigers in order in every inning but the third, when he ended up striking out Johnny Damon with two on and two out.
“Right now, I’ve been comfortable throwing the four pitches I have,” said Hamels, who has allowed two earned runs in 10 2/3 innings this spring. “I’ve come in (this spring) with more than a desire to win, to participate and help the team as much as I can. I didn’t really pull my end of the bargain last year. I’m excited to go and willing to do anything I possibly can to help the team win.”
Following the game, it was announced that Brown was reassigned to Minor League camp for more seasoning and experience. But, it seems sure that he belongs at the Big league level and that we’ll be seeing more of him either later this season or next.
On Wednesday, the Phils entertain the Yankees again as Joe Blanton is the scheduled starter with Jose Contreras, lefthander Sergio Escalona, Chad Durbin and impressive invitee David Herndon all scheduled for relief work.
The Phils have the day off on Thursday before returning to action on Friday in entertaining the Orioles.
del.icio.us |
digg |
Furl |
Reddit |
YahooMyWeb |