Posted by Kevin Durso
Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images
Cole Hamels allowed six runs to the Mets in his first start of the year. And since taking that loss, it was hard to find another of his four losses that he really deserved. Today, that loss finally came around. Hamels didn’t have his best stuff on the mound, and the Phillies looked more like a minor league team with some of their defensive blunders and offensive struggles. It all added up to one of the sloppiest games of the season.
Often times against the Phillies’ rotation, runs are gifts, because there usually aren’t many of them to go around. Hamels’ outing today got started with a gift, but Hamels wasn’t the one giving it away. After allowing his first hit of the day, a two-out double to Scott Hairston, Daniel Murphy
popped the first pitch he saw on the infield. While it’s still not clear what exactly caused this to happen, the ball dropped right between Ryan Howard and Chase Utley. Hairston was running hard the whole way, and scored easily on the Phillies’ gaffe.
The Phillies looked like they had something brewing in the third, as a pair of two-out baserunners set up a scoring chance for Chase Utley. But, Utley grounded out to second to end the inning.
Hamels got himself in trouble in the third. After allowed Niese to reach on a leadoff walk, and another runner on a single by Justin Turner, he had to deal with Hairston again. Hairston delivered once again, driving a double down the line in left. Niese was able to score easily, but had it not been for a bobble by Raul Ibanez, Turner might have held at third. Instead, he was able to score easily on the double. Hamels managed to strand two in the inning, but just barely, as Ben Francisco had to make a tough play on another close call with Utley.
The Mets just simply piled on from there. In the fourth, a sac fly by Angel Pagan padded their lead. In the fifth, Daniel Murphy led off the inning with a solo shot to right. Nick Evans stepped up two batters later and added another run with an RBI triple.
That ended the day for Cole Hamels, who only last 4 1/3 allowing seven runs on eight hits, walking four and striking out three. It was his worst outing since his first of the season, also against the Mets.
Ruben Tejada followed with an RBI single off David Herndon, capping the three-run frame. It was a career-high seven earned runs allowed by Hamels.
The Phillies at the very least managed to avoid being shutout. In the seventh, the Phillies opened the inning with three hits to load the bases for pinch-hitter Michael Martinez. Martinez rolled the first pitch to short, and managed to reach on an error. Everyone was safe and the Phillies were on the board. Another run would score as Jimmy Rollins grounded into a double play, but it sucked all the life out of the Phillies’ potential huge inning.
Niese still held the Phillies at bay most of the day. He lasted seven innings allowing two runs on six hits, walking one and striking out six.
The Mets weren’t done, as Danys Baez came in to pitch the seventh. Lucas Duda doubled home another run, as the Mets did all the work this inning with two outs, and put the Mets back on top by six. The next batter was Scott Hairston, and he continued his career day, blasting a three-run shot, and putting an exclamation point on this one.
The Phillies didn’t have any more offense to make this look somewhat closer, and were crushed by
the Mets today, losing 11-2.
This was a sloppy game from start to finish. After allowing an early run on a miscommunication error, Hamels seemed to be affected. He was clearly upset at his teammates on that play, then let it carry over to the innings that followed by allowing a career-high seven earned runs. It is certainly a forgettable day for Hamels, but one he has to put behind him quickly. Much like his first start of the season, we know this is not the type of pitcher Hamels is. We know he is better than that. Hamels should be in even better form after this start, looking to rebound strong.
The offense wasn’t solid, but there are still a few bright spots. Jimmy Rollins went 2-for-4. Raul Ibanez went 2-for-4 as well, and continued to bring his average up. The Phillies were knocked down early, and couldn’t seem to climb out of the hole. Their mistakes cost them today, and it may just be better for them to get it out of their system while they still can.
The Phillies go for a series win tomorrow afternoon when the face the Mets again. Kyle Kendrick gets the start against Mike Pelfrey.
