Game Recap:
Cole Hamels only lasted five innings, but the Phillies broke out their bats again, with Ryan Howard driving in three runs to help the Phils win the second game of the season.
What went right?
Jimmy Rollins went 1-3 with two walks and a run scored. The man has walked four times in two games.
Placido Polanco went 2-4 and scored three runs.
Chase Utley was 2-4 with two runs scored and an RBI.
Ryan Howard went 2-5 with a two run home run and an RBI double.
The bullpen shut the Nationals down, allowing just one run on five hits in four innings.
What went wrong?
Jayson Werth was 0-3.
Raul Ibanez went 0-3.
Cole Hamels may have picked up the win, but he lasted only five innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits. He walked four and struck out five.
Game Analysis:
While the Phillies took care of business tonight, the biggest story of this game was Cole Hamels and how he would pitch after a bad 2009. After watching him pitch for five innings tonight, I have to say...I really don't know what to expect from him in 2010.
Hamels started out the game by walking Nyjer Morgan on four straight pitches, but got out of the first inning without any damage. It was in the third and fourth innings where Cole ran into the same trouble he had during the 2009 campaign. After retiring the first two batters in the third inning, Hamels gave up a solo home run to the number two batter. Just as he did last year, Hamels responded by pitching around the next few batters, and by the time he got control of himself again, the Nationals had tied the game. Luckily, Hamels was able to give the Phillies the lead again in the top of the fourth, but another two out run resulted in the Nationals tying the game once more. Luckily, the Phillies were able to take the lead for good in the top of the fifth, thanks to an RBI single by Chase Utley and a two run home run by Ryan Howard.
Though Hamels struggled tonight, I can't get over how well the lineup is playing so far this year. Yes, it's only two games into the season, and yes, the Phillies are playing the Washington Nationals, but the fact of the matter is that this offense is playing even better than they did last season. Jason Marquis pitched well against the Phillies last year, but he couldn't even make it out of the fourth inning tonight. The Phillies continued their patience at the plate, walking eight times while striking out only six. The fact that Jimmy Rollins has already walked four times this season when he only managed 44 walks all of last year lets you know how well the Phils are working at the plate so far.
I don't know exactly who it is that's giving the Phillies this extra patience at the plate, but I'll take it. So far, the top of the lineup is playing better than almost any 1-4 group in all of baseball, and with Jayson Werth, Raul Ibanez and Shane Victorino behind them, the Phils might have the most complete lineup not only in the National League, but in all of baseball. I know it's early, but this team is playing very well so far at the plate. I can just barely ignore how Cole Hamels pitched tonight, because he picked up the win, and it's better than how he fared in his first start last season. I still need to see Cole at least get back to his mid-2008 form, because that would make me feel a lot better than what I saw out on the mound tonight. Regardless, the Phillies still managed to pick up their second straight win to start out the season, and things are looking very good already for the two time defending National League champions.
Tomorrow, the Phils and Nationals finish up their first series of the year, with the Phillies looking for the sweep. Kyle Kendrick will take the mound for the Phillies, and he'll be opposed by Craig Stammen.
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