Late Offensive Flurry Backs Another Hamels Win In San Diego
Cole Hamels was victorious again in San Diego thanks to some late inning offense from an unlikely source. The Phils have won two straight in San Diego, and haven’t lost at Petco Park since August 16th, 2008.
– Hamels increased his lifetime record at Petco Park in 12 starts against the Padres. According to the AP, in his last four starts against the Padres, he’s 4-0 with a 0.60 ERA. He is 7-2 lifetime in San Diego.
– Cole balked twice in the game, the first time ever in his career he was cited for two infractions in one game. In the second inning, after retiring Andy Parrino at thrid on a bunt by Edinson Volquez, Hamels balked with Chris Denorfia at the plate, moving Orlando Hudson and Volquez up to second and third respectively. After hitting Denorfia with a pitch to load the bases, Hamels stuck out Cameron Maybin to end the scoring threat. In the forth, second base umpire Bob Davidson called a balk on Hamels on what he believed to be an improper step off of the rubber. Replays showed that the balk call was dubious at best.
– It was another one of ‘those’ game where the offense decided to take its jolly time plating runners until the latter innings. The Phils left runners stranded on base in the first three innings and couldn’t cash in.
– The Phils didn’t get on the board until the seventh when Brian Schneider and Juan Pierre hit RBI singles.
– Sandwiched in between the Schneider and Pierre at-bats was another strike out for Jim Thome. Pinch hitting for Hamels in the seventh with runners on second and third, Thome fanned in a big spot of the game. In seven pinch hit appearances this season, Thome has stuck out in five of them. His only hit of the season, a single, last came on April 13th. Thome is batting .077 for the season.
– Shane Victorino hit a home run in the eighth to bring deliver the deciding score of 4-1. After having his 10-game hit streak snapped in San Francisco Wednesday night, Shane has compiled back to back two-hit games. He has five multi-hit games this season.
– The single Padres run came after a Cameron Maybin lead-off triple in the fifth inning. He later scored on a Jesus Guzman ground-out.
– Per Jim Salisbury, @JSalisburyCSN, Phillies pitching has allowed 7 runs in the last 86 innings in San Diego dating back to 2010.
– Roy Halladay takes the hill against Cory Luebke at 8:35PM.
