Game Recap:
Cole Hamels allowed four home runs and six total runs in six innings as the Phillies dropped their first game against the Diamondbacks.
What went right?
Shane Victorino was 2-5 with a triple and two RBI.
Placido Polanco went 1-5 with an RBI.
Jayson Werth went 1-4 with a run scored on a four base error from Chris Young.
Ben Francisco went 2-4.
What went wrong?
Chase Utley was 0-4 with two strikeouts.
Ryan Howard was 0-4 with two strikeouts.
Cole Hamels lasted six innings, allowing six runs on eight hits. He walked one and struck out seven.
J.C. Romero made his first appearance of the year, allowing a home run to the first batter he faced, and then he walked the second batter. His ERA at the moment is infinite.
Game Analysis:
After looking so good in his start against the Marlins last Sunday, Cole Hamels came out last night and looked solid for three innings. He allowed just one hit and struck out four batters in th first three innings, and looked well on his way to another solid start. Not only that, but the Phillies had given him some runs to play with this time, staking him to a 2-0 lead going into the bottom of the fourth inning.
Then, the bottom fell out. Hamels got Stephen Drew to fly out, then allowed Justin Upton to single and gave up back to back home runs to Mark Reynolds and Adam LaRoche that put Arizona up 3-2. After giving up a single to Chris Young, Hamels looked like he would get out of the inning, but then he gave up a third home run, this one to Chris Synder, and the Diamondbacks never looked back. Kelly Johnson would hit his first of two home runs in the fifth inning, and though Hamels would settle down after that, the damage was done.
This was a trip between two worlds for Cole Hamels. For three innings, he was the 2008 World Series MVP, mowing batters down, and having confidence in his pitches. Then, the fourth and fifth innings came around, and he was once again the pitcher from 2009 who couldn't wait for the season to be over. Hamels has always had a problem with giving up home runs, but three in a single inning and four in a game is too much for anyone, especially him. I don't know what happened last night with Hamels, and I don't want to see it again. He shows flashes of brilliance for parts of games, but then falls apart when it matters the most.
The worst part about last night was that the Phils had even given Cole a lead heading into the fourth inning. Against Florida, the Phillies couldn't muster a run for Hamels, but last night, they gave him two runs by the fourth inning. With the way he was pitching early, that should have been enough, but it wasn't even close. I have to put the blame for this loss on Hamels. The Phillies had a lead, he was making pitches, but then, it's like he forgot how to do what he had done so well for the first third of the game. I don't know how to explain it. Luckily, it's just one game, and I hope that Hamels can bounce back in his next start.
He needs to.
In about half an hour, the Phillies take the field against Arizona once again. Nelson Figueroa (1-1, 2.45 ERA) takes on Ian Kennedy (0-1, 5.65 ERA).
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