Cole Hamels was lights out in LA on Thursday.
It’s about time.
It’s about time a Phillies pitcher stepped up to the point of completely shutting down its own bullpen. It’s about time a Phillies pitcher dominated and threw less than 100 pitches during his outing. It’s about time the Phillies showed how good they really are.
In Thursday night’s performance, Cole Hamels stifled the Dodgers for just five hits scattered over nine innings, making him the first Phillies pitcher to go the distance this season. Going up against one of the most potent offenses in the National League, Hamels was unfazed, as he did not walk a batter and struck out five, while tossing just 97 pitches.
This is what stars are made of. Hamels knows the importance of resting a tattered bullpen; one that has thrown 171.2 innings, fifth most in the NL. “Hollywood” realizes that he needs to be a leader as well, especially now that Brett Myers is likely on the shelf for the remainder of the season.
We saw another step in the maturation process of Cole Hamels last night in LA, and man was it fun to see. He continually kept hitters off-balance, never allowing the Dodgers to find a rhythm at the plate. Facing another young stud in lefty Clayton Kershaw, two of the most exciting talents in baseball went head to head, and the veteran came out on top.
Hamels allowed just one extra-base hit, a double by Andre Either in the bottom of the sixth. That would be the closest to the dish the Dodgers would get, as no one in blue even sniffed third base on this beautiful SoCal night. In all, Hamels would sit the opposition down in order in five different innings. In two other innings, Hamels allowed a baserunner, only to get out of it with a double play on the third at-bat. That’s what you call control.
The Phillies offense also did just enough to squeak by on Thursday. Without Shane Victorino, sitting with a hip injury, the Phils got RBI’s from Ryan Howard, Raul Ibanez, and Jayson Werth, which was plenty on this night.
With the win in the opener against Los Angeles, the Phils jumped four games ahead of the New York Mets, who were swept by the lowly Pirates in their three-game set.
Looking ahead to the final three games of the Phillies series against the Dodgers, Jamie Moyer goes tonight and will look to keep the ball rolling on this seven-game winning streak. Moyer will be opposed by former Phillie Eric Milton. In game three, Joe Blanton will face Hiroki Kuroda and in the finale, Antonio Bastardo will get his second start of this season, this time in front of a national audience on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball.
It’s become quite clear that the name of the game for the Phils is pitching. With this makeshift staff blooming as the warmer weather sets in, the team is finding the track that led them to a title last year. A balance of a steady offense and a starting rotation that eats innings is imperative. The Phillies are showing they can hang with anyone right now, as is evident by their awesome road trip. But they can’t let off the gas just yet. Three more with the NL West leading Dodgers, followed by a set with the Mets, and there is still plenty of room for error. But, for now, enjoy what you are seeing.
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