Posted by Danielle Wilson
In the first of this three-game series against the Washington Nationals, Cole Hamels (3-1, 3.13 ERA) took the mound against Livan Hernandez (3-2, 3.20 ERA) for Jayson Werth's homecoming game. The reaction from the fans was already posted by Stephen Gallo on this fabulous website.
Cole Hamels was doing what he does best tonight, deal. He pitched six shutout innings before allowing a solo home run to Mike Morse in the seventh. By that point, though, he had already retired the side in order twice, striking out three, allowing two hits, and walking one.
This was a good game offensively for just about everyone, even Cole Hamels who scored from third (he tripled, of course, right over Jayson's furry face) on Jimmy Rollins' RBI single in the third inning.
Raul Ibanez finally snapped his 0-35 streak in the fourth inning, when he slapped a ground-rule double to center. In the fifth inning, Placido Polanco popped up a sacrifice fly to score Jimmy Rollins who had tripled to Jayson Werth, who misplayed the ball.
It was around this time in the game when I noticed that the only trash on the field was in right field. Allow me to ponder on this one for a moment.
The Phils struck again in the seventh inning, Ryan Howard doubled to score Shane Victorino from second, and Raul Ibanez doubled to score Ryan Howard. 4-1 Phillies (remember that Morse homer?)
Cole was at just 99 pitches after eight innings, and went for the the complete game, his first of the year. He did just that, while striking out Jayson Werth just for the hell of it. Not bad for a fourth starter, eh?
Phillies take this one, and also take whatever happiness was left inside of Werth. Vance Worley will start tomorrow against Jason Marquis, woo-hoo!
