Sunday, June 03, 2007

Something To Cheer About

Cole Hamels is all that stands between the Phillies and the Washington Nationals. The young left-hander won a league-leading eighth game of the season last night and in the process pitched his second complete game of the year and stopped the Phils' four-game losing streak. That's the kind of performance a team needs from its ace and make no mistake about it, Hamels has assumed that mantel on this club.

The Phillies continue to scuffle for their hits, notching only six of them (that makes eleven hits total in their last three games), but for the first time this home stand they made the most of their anemic production and actually took and held onto a lead. The Phils also beat a left-hander, a rarity this season, and climbed back to within one game of .500 for the umpteenth time.

This night belonged to Hamels, who capped off his evening with a dramatic confrontation with Barry Bonds at the plate in the top of the ninth. With one out and one man on and the Phils leading by a score of 5-2, the situation was hardly dire, but the crowd loved it just the same, roaring with every pitch as Hamels struck Bonds out. Finally, something to cheer about, in the stands and, frankly, in the dugout. According to catcher Rod Barajas, Hamels threw Bonds five straight changeups during that at-bat and the veteran receiver marveled that while big league hitters generally and great ones in particular can adjust the second or third time they see the same pitch, Hamels' change isn't just any ordinary pitch.

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