The Phillies continue to get "Cole" in their stocking from their left-handed ace.
With a golden opportunity to make up another full game on both the Braves and Nats, the Phils promptly went belly-up vs. the Indians in a Businessperson's Special at the Bank.
The Phillies are getting a great year from perhaps the least-heralded member of their starting pitching rotation, Kyle Kendrick. And they are getting an unexpected boost from rookie Jonathan Pettibone, who now is sporting a 3-0 record and 3.41 ERA in five starts.
So you had to like the Phils' chance in the tail end of this quick, two-game series against the Tribe with Hamels on the hill.
Didn't work out that way. Instead Hamels continues his funk. It took him 106 pitches to scratch and claw his way through just five innings. By that time, the Phils were trailing 5-1. Hamels gave up those five runs on six hits, and also walked two. His record now sits at a paltry 1-6. Incredibly the Phils have now lost eight of Hamels' nine starts.
This is not what anyone imagined when the team showered Hamels with a $144 million extension in the off-season, making him the richest pitcher in team history.
The Phils remain three and a half games back. They are not out of it. But with Roy Halladay already on the shelf, it's hard to see them climbing into the race unless Hamels can cure what is ailing him.
Check out Dennis Deitch for a full report on Hamels' woes and yesterday's latest debacle.
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