Game Recap:
The Phillies couldn't get their offense going, and Cole Hamels looked less than stellar as they dropped the first game of a four game series against New York.
What went right?
Chase Utley was 2-4 and scored a run.
Ryan Howard went 2-4 with an RBI and scored a run.
Pedro Feliz replaced Greg Dobbs and went 1-2 with an RBI.
What went wrong?
Cole Hamels lasted only five innings, allowing four runs on ten hits. He struck out six and walked none.
Jayson Werth was 0-3.
Carlos Ruiz was 0-3.
Raul Ibanez went 1-4 with a strikeout, dropping his average to .288.
Game Analysis:
It's a little bit tough to put this game into words, which is why I'm posting this today. If the Mets were as good as they were supposed to be, this loss would really hurt. Instead, I'm only concerned about one thing right now that I saw in this game.
Cole Hamels still doesn't have the same stuff that he had last year, and it really showed last night. He was having trouble getting batters out, and when he hit Mike Pelfrey in the second inning after going 0-2 in the count, it opened up a two run inning when it could have been nothing. His location has been off all season, and he's doubting his out pitches. Last year, Cole pitched like he had something to prove. This year, he's pitching like a back of the rotation pitcher, which is never a good thing, particularly when that pitcher won the World Series MVP last season. Fortunately, the Phillies have Cliff Lee, J.A. Happ and Joe Blanton pitching lights out right now, because Cole just isn't cutting it.
Those three give the Phillies a solid starting playoff rotation, but the difference between just getting back to the World Series and winning back to back titles may rest on the left arm of Cole Hamels. He needs to get that edge back, and soon.
Tonight, J.A. Happ (9-2, 2.66 ERA) faces off against Tim Redding (1-4, 6.53 ERA). Happ's been good at stopping losing streaks from happening, so let's see what he can do tonight.
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