Game Recap:
Cole Hamels pitched a complete game, two hit shutout to get the Phillies past the Giants in the first game of their three game set.
What went right?
Shane Victorino was 1-4 with a stolen base and a run scored.
Ryan Howard went 2-4 with the only RBI of the game.
Cole Hamels pitched a complete game shutout, striking out nine and walking one. He also stole a base, becoming the first Phillies pitcher to steal a base since 1997.
What went wrong?
Aside from Howard and Victorino, the Phillies managed just three other hits.
The entire lineup struck out ten times.
Game Analysis:
I would like everyone to welcome back the old Cole Hamels. In his last two starts, Hamels hasn't allowed a run, and has a 19 inning scoreless streak through the end of his game against the Mets. Last night, Cole looked like his old self, keeping the Giants off balance all night. While the Giants don't have the best hitting lineup in the National League, they can hit bad pitching, as evidenced by how they hit against the Phillies the last time these two teams played. What we saw last night was a return to form for Cole. I've been saying time and time again that the Phillies need Cole to get back to his old form if they want to go far in the playoffs, and now that he seems like he's back, would you want to face Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, J.A. Happ and Joe Blanton in a best of five, or seven series? There aren't many better potential playoff pitching staffs out there right now.
Sure, I could complain about the offense last night, but the fact of the matter is that you will get games where teams have to win 1-0, and that's what last night was. What the Giants lack in hitting, they make up for in pitching, and that was a great example of it. The offense didn't do much, but they got that one hit when they needed to, and that was all that mattered. The way Cole pitched last night, one run probably could have kept the Phils on the winning side of things for 20 innings. This series against the Giants may be the last one all season against a playoff team, so it's good to see the Phillies get off to such a good start.
Tonight, J.A. Happ (10-3, 2.63 ERA) takes on Brad Penny (7-8, 5.61 ERA). Let's go Phils!
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