Brown Homers Again, Hamels Shuts Down Marlins for Sweep
On a beautiful Wednesday afternoon, the Phillies beat the Marlins, 6-1, finally getting back to the .500 mark with a sweep. They’re back level ground for the first time since they were 6-6. It’s also the first time the Phils have won four straight games.
As my colleague Corey Seidman pointed out via twitter, the Phillies have scored at least six runs in four consecutive games for the first time since late September 2010.
Lucky #7
-In the seventh inning, the Phillies broke it open. They scored five in the frame, busting through with a Jimmy Rollins RBI single to start. Ryan Howard brought home two runs with his first triple since April 22, 2011. The Big Piece needed a big hit, and he got one.
-Not to be outdone was Man of the Year, Domonic Brown. He launched a two-run Dom Bomb into the seats in right for his 18th home run of the season. Brown was in a quick 0-for-8 “slump” just before he exploded for another homer. Wow, what more can you say.
-John Mayberry Jr. got the first hit of the day off of Jacob Turner in the second inning, a smoked single to left field. Erik Kratz continued his hot streak, getting the Phillies on the board one batter later. With his second inning RBI-double, Kratz now has hits in 9 of the last 10 games.
Hamels Back in Top Form
-Hamels line: 7 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 11 K, 1 HR, 1 HBP. His ball-to-strike ratio was impressive, throwing 81 of his 108 pitches for strikes. The issue had been, of course, run support. In his first three starts against the Marlins, the Phillies offense provided him with one, zero, and one run. It was slightly better today as the Phillies gave him six just before he left the game.
-It was the 23rd time in his career Hamels struck out 10 or more batters in a game, and the third time this season.
-Hamels allowed a fourth inning home run to Derek Deitrich, which tied the game at 1-1. It was a cutter, a pitch that Hamels has grappled with this season. Going into the game, Hamels had thrown 223 cutters, four of them leaving the yard (make that five with this one).
-Home plate umpire John Hirschbeck left the game in the seventh inning after taking a pitch off his right hand. It was a scary scene as he went down in a heap; Jim Reynolds replaced him.
