Bats Back Hamels in 9-4 Victory

Prior to the game, several Phillies enjoyed watching (and even celebrated) Mark Buehrle’s perfect game. Hours later, Cole Hamels wasn’t perfect, but pitched well enough to earn his sixth victory of the year.

The Phillies took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Pedro Feliz singled, Jimmy Rollins (2-for-4) doubled, and Chase Utley singled, each driving in a run apiece. Feliz (3-for-5) singled in the third to extend the Phillies lead by four.

In the fourth, Chase Headley’s double and Kyle Banks’ home run made it a 4-3 ballgame. Luckily, the Phillies had no trouble against Padres’ starter Kevin Correia. The Phillies kept tacking on runs. Ryan Howard, Raul Ibanez, and Jayson Werth (3-for-5) each drove in runs. With their runs batted in, Howard and Ibanez each have 70 RBI for the season. They are third and fourth respectively in the National League in that category.

The Phillies roughed up Correia for eight runs on nine hits in 3.1 innings. Despite allowing three runs in one inning, Hamels settled down. He pitched seven innings, allowing only four hits and two walks. He struck out six.

Carlos Ruiz hit his fifth homer of the year. Everth Cabrera drove in a meaningless run off Andrew Carpenter in the eighth. The Phillies won 9-4 in a game that was originally scheduled for April 20. They have now won 11 of their last 12.