Cole Hamels deserved better.
And that includes from his manager. Charlie Manuel trotted out what you could kindly call an 'interesting' lineup in the rubber match of a three-game set in Seattle.
Wilson Valdez at third for Placido Polanco. Michael Martinez in left field for Raul Ibanez. Ben Francisco back in right field.
But the names at the top of the lineup were familiar: Rollins; Victorino, Utley, Howard.
Didn't matter. The Phils' bats slept in on Sunday. Sleepless in Seattle? Not the Phils' lumber. They took the day off, getting all of two hits in being shut out by lefthander Jason Vargas.
Hamels was very sharp again, but the two runs on seven hits was two more than he could afford.
It's the second time in a month was Hamels was very good, only to get little or no support from the Phils' bats. He's still looking for his 10th win.
Now it's on to St. Louis, where the Cardinals await, although they may be without star Albert Pujols, who is battling back problems.
It won't make much difference if the Phils hit the way they did on Sunday.
Look for every team now to try to load up on lefties. After what the Phils did on Sunday in Seattle, it might quickly be turning into their Achilles heel.
And that includes from his manager. Charlie Manuel trotted out what you could kindly call an 'interesting' lineup in the rubber match of a three-game set in Seattle.
Wilson Valdez at third for Placido Polanco. Michael Martinez in left field for Raul Ibanez. Ben Francisco back in right field.
But the names at the top of the lineup were familiar: Rollins; Victorino, Utley, Howard.
Didn't matter. The Phils' bats slept in on Sunday. Sleepless in Seattle? Not the Phils' lumber. They took the day off, getting all of two hits in being shut out by lefthander Jason Vargas.
Hamels was very sharp again, but the two runs on seven hits was two more than he could afford.
It's the second time in a month was Hamels was very good, only to get little or no support from the Phils' bats. He's still looking for his 10th win.
Now it's on to St. Louis, where the Cardinals await, although they may be without star Albert Pujols, who is battling back problems.
It won't make much difference if the Phils hit the way they did on Sunday.
Look for every team now to try to load up on lefties. After what the Phils did on Sunday in Seattle, it might quickly be turning into their Achilles heel.
Comments