Phillies Sweep the Padres

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One series can make a big difference. It was just a few days ago when the lowly Houston Astros swept the Phillies in four games. Three games later, the Phillies completed a sweep of their own against the first-place San Diego Padres. This series came down to the pitching, but the Phillies managed to score five runs for Cole Hamels in today’s 5-0 victory.

The Padres entered today’s game as one of the best fielding teams in baseball. After today’s game, that is hard to believe. The Friars committed four fielding errors. The Phillies took advantage of the mistakes, and tacked on five runs.

The first run came on an RBI single from Jimmy Rollins, but the big blow came off the bat of Mike Sweeney. Sweeney played in replace of Ryan Howard, who had a scheduled off day. In the seventh inning, Sweeney ripped a liner over the right field wall for a two-run shot. It was Sweeney’s first home run as a Phillie, and his first in three months. Later on, Jayson Werth added an insurance run, smashing a home run of his own.

One run was all Cole Hamels needed. Receiving run support was a new thing for him, as he picked up the victory. Hamels shut down the Padres over eight innings, surrendering only four hits. It was surprising that Hamels finished the day without walking a batter, because he had a high pitch count and often fell deep into counts. Hamels struck out six.

If the Phillies ever needed a sweep, it was this one. With the Braves rallying for a win, this game became more and more important. This sweep could add new life to the Phillies, especially after that horrific series with Houston.

Phillies Seek to Sweep Friars

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Philadelphia Phillies (72-57) at San Diego Padres (76-52)
Cole Hamels (7-10, 3.47 ERA) vs. Clayton Richard (12-5, 3.55 ERA)

The Phillies have rebounded quickly after being swept by the lowly Houston Astros. Now, the Phillies are on the verge of sweeping the first place San Diego Padres. This series has been about pitching, as both teams haven't gathered too many runs. That's usually how PETCO plays out anyway.

Cole Hamels, a San Diego native, always has success when facing the Friars. Hamels has a 3.18 ERA against the Padres in his career, but a more impressive 2.18 ERA at PETCO Park. Hamels keeps improving as the season progresses, however the problem seems to be run support. The lack of run support for Hamels is getting extremely tiring. Hopefully that changes today.

Overall, Clayton Richard has solid numbers for the season. His repitoire includes a two-seam fastball, a slurve, and a changeup. He typically keeps the ball down, forcing many ground balls.

Phillies Aim To Sweep Giants

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San Francisco Giants (67-54) at Philadelphia Phillies (68-51)
Jonathan Sanchez (8-8 3.60 ERA) vs. Cole Hamels (7-9, 3.33 ERA)

Two days ago, the Philadelphia Phillies trailed the San Francisco Giants in the National League Wild Card. Now, the Phillies are on the verge of sweeping them.

Too many times, Cole Hamels has fell a victim of lack of run support. Hamels is coming off an outing in which he only allowed one run, however the Phillies only managed one hit off R.A Dickey. It has been a reoccurring theme for Hamels. The Giants have a tremendous pitching staff, and have another solid starter today, but the Phillies have been tacking on runs throughout this series. Hamels hopes to get more run support so he can get a win for a change. He is in the midst of a hot streak, posting a 1.82 earned run average in his last five starts.

Sanchez has had a decent year for the Giants. Recently, he has had some trouble making it through six innings, but he still has good numbers for the year. He is a strikeout pitcher, but occasionally can get wild.

Santana & Hamels Face to Face

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New York Mets (54-55) at Philadelphia Phillies (61-48)
Johan Santana, LHP (8-6, 3.20 ERA) vs. Cole Hamels (7-7, 3.56 ERA)

A huge eighth inning rally helped lead the Phillies to a 7-5 victory over the New York Mets last night. Tonight, the ball will be handed to Cole Hamels, who can hopefully go deep into tonight's game after a rocky bullpen performance yesterday. Hamels will be opposed by Johan Santana, who hasn't had quite the year many expected, although still having a solid season.

In his career against the Mets, Cole Hamels has lacked support from his offense, falling 2-5, despite having an ERA in the threes. On the other hand, Santana has gotten run support, posting a 4-2 record with an ERA above four in games against the Phillies.

Placido Polanco has the best numbers against Santana throughout his career. He has a .386 average with a home run. David Wright has the best numbers against Hamels, having a .345 average against him.

The Phillies look to continue their hot steak, both at home and on the road. Even though this team is plagued with injuries, the replacement players are doing their part to help the team win. Good teams need non-star players to step it up in key situations.

Phillies Aim To Sweep Reds

Cincinnati Reds (49-40) at Philadelphia Phillies (46-40)
Matt Maloney (0-1, 4.76 ERA) vs. Cole Hamels (6-7, 4.05)

Just as everybody is about to write them off, the Phillies pull everybody back in. Not only has their three straight walk-off wins improved their record, but perhaps has given the team that "swagger" they once had. Last night, Travis Wood was nearly perfect, but even perfection can't beat Roy Halladay. Halladay kept the Phillies in the game with nine shutout innings, and for the third straight night, the Phillies won in extra innings. Jimmy Rollins came through with the eleventh inning clutch hit. Who will get the walk-off today, as the Phillies will attempt to sweep the four-game set?

There's always that one team that a pitcher absolutely destroys. For Cole Hamels, it is the Cincinnati Reds. In his career against the Reds, Hamels is 5-0 with a 1.26 earned run average. He has 39 strikeouts in 43 innings against them.

Maloney is filling in for an injured Aaron Harang. Maloney is making his second start of the season, and possibly his last with the possibility of Harang returning. Maloney surrendered three runs in 5.2 innings against the Mets in his last start. Sometimes it's these "no-name" pitchers that have the most success against the Phillies, so don't tab them for 12 runs yet.

This is the final game before the All Star Break. The Phillies would like it to end on a high note, with a sweep.

Hamels Seeks to Continue Phillies Hot Streak

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Philadelphia Phillies (39-32) at Toronto Blue Jays (39-35)
Cole Hamels, LHP (6-5, 3.75ERA) vs. Shaun Marcum, RHP (6-3, 3.24 ERA)

The Phillies are back to their old ways of offensive explosions and lights out pitching. This is the team that Philadelphia fans love to watch.

There was certainly no home field advantage for the Blue Jays, who were given a 9-0 beat down from the Phillies. The Blue Jays will remain the home team throughout this series, but at Citizens Bank Park, the advantage always goes to the team dressed in red pinstripes (but in this case, the gray road uniforms).

Shaun Marcum, who missed all of 2009 due to an injury, will take the hill for the Jays. Marcum has been solid in 15 starts this season. His earned run average sits at 3.24 and he has a decent WHIP of 1.14. Opponents are batting just .238 against him, however the newly re-surged Phillies offense could give him a surprise.

Cole Hamels continues to look stellar. In his last outing, he had one rough inning before settling in. This seems to be a reoccurring theme for Hamels. Hamels tends to be inconsistent, but lately he's pitched very well. Hamels just needs to avoid that one bad inning, and his ERA will slowly drop, and the wins will pile up.

Hamels Looks To Keep It Going vs. Twins

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The Minnesota Twins (38-31) play versus the Philadelphia Phillies (35-30). Kevin Slowey, RHP (7-4, 3.84 ERA) starts vs. Cole Hamels, LHP (6-5, 3.74 ERA).

Three in a row, Phils. Keep it going!

In last night's victory, there was quite a power display from Chase Utley and Ryan Howard. There's nothing like a little boost in the 'ole slugging percentage, and hopefully the middle of the order can continue to show off their power against Kevin Slowey. Slowey, like Nick Blackburn, is not exactly overpowering, therefore there could be more crooked numbers today.

Cole Hamels will try for his seventh win of the season. His win-loss record does not reflect the way he has pitched because of the lack of run support at times. Hamels has shown signs of returning to his 2008 form, however he still tends to get plagued by the long ball. Hamels has already allowed 14 home runs this year, and the Twins have plenty of hitters who are capable of going yard.

Luckily, Joe Mauer (.271 in June) and Justin Morneau (.204 in June) are not as hot with the bat as they can be. Despite still having great offensive numbers, they are both in a little bit of a funk, compared to some of the numbers they have put up throughout their careers.

Phillies Finish Home Stand on High Note

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There was some magic in those pink bats that Jayson Werth, Placido Polanco, and Shane Victorino used. They each smashed solo home runs to help the Phillies wrap up a 7-3 home stand. But it was the bullpen that was the story in the Phillies 5-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves.

Cole Hamels lasted just five innings, but was backed by solid defense. In the first inning, Omar Infante rounded third as Werth threw a laser to Carlos Ruiz, who applied the tag. Infante was gunned down, and the inning came to an end. Hamels allowed three earned runs on eight hits. He struck out five, but was a tad wild as he walked four. Luckily for Hamels, he received run support unlike his last start.

The Phillies loaded the bases in the first inning. Werth was hit by a pitch by Kenshin Kawakami to force in a run. Ibanez followed with a shallow fly ball to right field. It was nowhere deep enough to score a run, however when Chase Utley is on third base, nothing is shallow enough. Melky Cabrera took his time, and Utley took advantage and tagged from third to score. By the third inning, the Phillies led 4-0 thanks to home runs by Polanco and Werth.

The Braves inched back off Hamels, but the bullpen stepped in and dominated. Chad Durbin pitched two perfect innings and struck out four. Jose Contreras has made us all forget about his poor spring training. He threw a scoreless inning to set it up for Brad Lidge.

Eric Hinske and Infante hit two loud fly balls. On any day, those balls probably would have left the yard, but thankfully the wind knocked them down. After all the fans took a deep breath, Lidge retired Martin Prado to record his first save of the season.

The Phillies' bullpen combined for four scoreless innings. Nor Durbin, Contreras or Lidge allowed a single base runner. The bullpen needs to continue this sort of dominance, and the Phillies will continue to succeed.

5th Inning Rally Lifts Phils

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The red carpet rolled out and each player walked down from centerfield. Charlie Manuel proudly raised the blue 2009 National League pennant banner in Ashburn Alley. The players were introduced, and the 2010 Home Opener was underway.

The news did not start off good. Jimmy Rollins was scratched from the lineup due to a calf strain. Jayson Werth later left with an injury. Werth's injury is not expected to be serious, however Rollins may be headed for the disabled list.

Cole Hamels' second consecutive start against the Nationals did not go as planned. The lefty struggled once again, surrendering four earned runs in 5.2 innings. Hamels struck out six, but his earned run average raised to 5.06. Hamels has yet to put 2009 behind, and return to the form he was in 2008 and prior.

The Phillies found themselves in a 4-0 deficit, but the offense always has a comeback in them. Ryan Howard continued his hot hitting with a RBI single.

Juan Castro caught on to his new team quickly, driving in a run during his first game as a Phillie. Placido Polanco (2-for-4) raised his average to .484 with a RBI single of his own. Chase Utley smashed a two-run home run down the right field line to cap off a five-run fifth inning. The Phillies offense remains hot and has no desire of cooling off.

The bullpen did a stellar job to secure the win for Hamels. Chad Durbin, Jose Contreras, Danys Baez, and Ryan Madson combined for 3.1 hitless innings.

With the 7-4 victory, the Phillies improve to a Major League best 6-1 record. Tomorrow, Kyle Kendrick will look to redeem himself after a disappointing outing last week.

Phils Return Home for Opener

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Today, the Washington Nationals (3-3) face the Philadelphia Phillies (5-1). Jason Marquis, RHP starts vs. Cole Hamels, LHP.

The boys are back in town! The Philadelphia Phillies will make their much anticipated 2010 home debut. They are coming off an impressive 5-1 roadtrip, which includes a sweep of the Houston Astros.

The Phillies also faced the Nationals, taking two of three from them. The Nationals evened their record against the Mets, but the Phillies would like to put them below .500 again.

The Phillies’ offense has been unstoppable. They’ve been doing every right: drawing walks, getting on base, driving in runners in scoring position, hitting home runs, you name it. They lead all of baseball in runs scored and on-base plus slugging percentage. The Phillies look to continue their hot offense in their hitter-friendly ballpark.

Today’s game is an exact rematch of the second game of the season: Cole Hamels against Jason Marquis. Marquis was roughed up in four innings as control issues led to six earned runs. Hamels’ command wasn’t spot on either. Hamels earned the win despite only lasting five innings and walking four. Hamels didn’t seem to challenge hitters, and repeatedly threw down and in. Perhaps moving pitches in and out will help, while mixing his fastball with his stellar changeup and newly found cutter.

Phillies fans traveled well during Opening Week, but there is nothing like being behind an electric home crowd. It’s Opening Day: Part II. Baseball officially returns to the city of brotherly love.

Hamels & Moyer Have Solid Outings

As seen on Phillies Nation.

In Friday's 14-9 loss against the Toronto Blue Jays, Cole Hamels made his 2010 spring training debut.

Tossing 32 pitches in two innings, Hamels allowed one run (a solo home run), two hits, and walked one. Hamels' fastball topped at 89 mph, but he also showed a cutter and curveball. Hamels was confident in his cutter. In addition, Charlie Manuel acknowledged that Hamels' curveball was good, especially to left-handed hitters.

In a "B" game, Jamie Moyer also made his spring debut. In three shutout innings, he allowed three hits and struck out three. 23 of his 31 pitches were for strikes.

Also on Friday, Tyson Gillies homered and Domonic Brown went 2-for-4. However, pitchers J.C Ramirez, Ryan Vogelsong, and Bill White struggled.

Today's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates is currently being aired on 1210 WPHT.

Quotes & Notes: Spring Training Day One

The first official day of spring training is over. Pitchers and catchers reported to camp and took part in their first team workout. Position players were also in attendance. Here's the stories from day one, including quotes:

• "Being the perfectionist that [Cole Hamels] is, he took [his 2009's struggles] to heart, and he did the work that he had to do. So he's in a much better position right now. He could have gone home and sulked again and said, oh, what do they know. He didn't do that. He went home and did what he had to do." -- Rich Dubee, Phillies pitching coach.

Hamels put a lot of work in this off season, and says that he did not stop throwing over the winter. Over the break, Hamels experimented with a cutter, and even talked to Steve Carlton and Cliff Lee about the pitch. During spring training, Hamels will work on improving his curveball.

• "[Jamie Moyer]'s probably ahead of schedule in what we thought he might be able to do." -- Dubee

This is good news, especially if Jamie wants to keep the fifth starter's job. J.C Romero also felt that he was ahead of schedule. A healthy team is always key. However, rushing back from an injury can make it worse.

• "I don't necessarily expect myself to have '08, but I expect myself to be a hell of a lot closer to '08 than '09, that's for sure." -- Brad Lidge, Phillies closer

That's a confident Brad Lidge. And that's what he needs: confidence. Over and over I have heard that Lidge's problems were mental. Perhaps he has his mind straight. After all, "baseball is 90% mental -- the other half is physical" (Yogi Berra).

• "[ Placido] Polanco has quick feet at third base. Third base is a reaction kind of place. Polly definitely can do that. Polly does throw good. He is accurate. All around with the bat and everything, he's a better player than [Pedro] Feliz. I don't see where we're going to get hurt there." -- Charlie Manuel, Phillies manager

I can't argue that Polanco is an overall upgrade from Feliz. He's not going to be as solid defensively, but as Manuel said, he's no slouch when it comes to defense. His transition to third should not be a huge problem.

A Renewed Rivalry?

• "We're expecting to go out there and win the National League East, go deep in the playoffs and win a World Series." -- David Wright, New York Mets.

Ever since Jimmy Rollins proclaimed the Phillies to be the "team to beat" in 2007, there has been bantering back-and-forth between the Phillies and Mets. An injury-plagued Mets ball club only won 70 games last year, and their rivalry with the Phillies fell apart towards the end of the season. While this isn't a direct shot at the Phillies, it still adds to the rivalry.

• "Santana." -- Johan Santana

In the quote above, Santana, answered a question. However, the question wasn't "what's your name?" He was asked who the best pitcher in the National League East is. He simply replied with his own name.

I don't know about you, but I'm looking forward to a renewed rivalry between these two teams.

Also featured on Phillies Nation.

The Three Biggest Concerns

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That time of the year is quickly approaching, folks. Pitchers and catchers report in just two days. On paper, the 2010 Phillies look better than they did at this point in 2009. The lineup is set, the bench is improved, but there are still a few question marks headed into spring training.

It’s unsure how Placido Polanco will transition to third base. It’s also unknown who will be the left-handed specialist if J.C Romero is not ready by the beginning of the season. But here are the three biggest concerns headed into spring training:

Brad Lidge

By now, we know his 2009 numbers — an earned run average over seven and eleven blown saves. He had one of the worst seasons as a closer, ever. Lidge had two surgeries this off-season, and his status for Opening Day is unknown.

Lidge may not be ready by the start of the season, but he should not miss a significant amount of time. In the occasions that Lidge had an off year, he followed it up with a decent year. If the pattern continues, Lidge is due for a good season.

Cole Hamels

Last year, Hamels pitched average for a major league pitcher. For Cole Hamels, it was a subpar season. As the 2008 NLCS and World Series MVP, Hamels had plenty of off-season distractions last off-season. It’ll be interesting to hear how Hamels prepared for the 2010 season. Hopefully, he had more time to focus, but the biggest concern is improving his curveball.

Hamels’ curveball problems were easily noticed in last year’s division series. If Hamels is unable to improve his curveball, he should immedietly switch to a slider or cut-fastball. As a two-pitch pitcher, it is important for Hamels to develop a third pitch. Adding another pitch will make him that much scarier of a pitcher.

Jamie Moyer

Ruben Amaro Jr. already proclaimed that the fifth spot in the rotation is Moyer’s to lose. However, Moyer had multiple surgeries and health problems this off-season. The 47-year old remains optimistic that he’ll be ready to pitch this spring, and was also open to the idea of pitching in 2011!

If Moyer does not win the fifth starter’s job, it’ll be interesting to see who wins it: Kyle Kendrick? Andrew Carpenter? Or somebody else?

Player Recap: Cole Hamels

This article was featured on Phillies Nation under 2009 Player Reviews.

In January of 2009, the Phillies avoided arbitration with Cole Hamels by signing him to a three-year, $20.5 million deal. For a pitcher who won the 2008 World Series MVP, the move was a cheap steal for the Phillies. After going 4-0 with a 1.80 ERA in the playoffs, the young left-hander had high expectations for 2009.

Cole didn't respond the way everybody would've liked.

On the first day of spring training, Charlie Manuel penciled Hamels in as the Opening Day starter. However, Hamels suffered from elbow pain and wouldn't make his first start until April 10. It wasn't pretty; Hamels allowed seven earned runs in 3.2 innings. It was just the beginning of a long season for Hamels.

Glancing at his stats (32 G, 10-11, 193.2 IP, 4.32 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 168 SO, .273 BAA), Hamels had an average year for a major league pitcher. What made Hamels' season disappointing was the fact that everybody knew that he was capable of being a big game pitcher. Hamels' frustration in himself was noticeable, especially in the National League Championship Series when he tossed his arms in the air after a teammate's error.

It was very easy to point out Hamels' problem: location. When Hamels missed his spots, he paid heavily. But at least he made batters work their way on. Hamels gave up 9.6 hits per nine innings. Hamels only walked two batters per nine innings, a career best. 51.4% of his pitches were in the strike zone, which ranked fifth best in the National League. He also had the fifth best walk/strikeout ratio (3.91) in the National League.

Hamels was unable to get into a groove during the posteason. He went 1-2 with a 7.58 ERA, and allowed seven home runs.

In early 2009, Hamels admitted that he does not have a good curveball. It showed in 2009, but if it can be improved, he'll be that much better of a pitcher. The 26-year old is still capable of being an ace. With less offseason distractions, Hamels can prepare himself for the 2010 season, and can hopefully return to his old, dominant form.

Hamels had a disappointing year, but his subpar season was about average for a major league pitcher.

Year In Review: NLCS Game One

Swing and a Long Drive will be looking at some of 2009's top moments. We had a similar "Year in Review" last year, but instead of month-by-month, we'll look at some of the top games. They are also a part of Phillies Nation's Top 25 Moments of 2009.

It didn't take long for the Phillies to get their first victory in the National League Championship Series. The pitching was shaky, but home runs from Carlos Ruiz and Raul Ibanez proved to be the difference in the 8-6 victory.

Young Clayton Kershaw cruised through the first four innings, but it wouldn't last. Carlos Ruiz smacked a three-run home run to left field, giving the Phillies a 3-1 lead. "Choochtober" has a .303 batting average and a .905 OPS in his playoff career.

Ryan Howard started his NLCS MVP campaign with a two-run double. Not only did Howard's eighteenth RBI give the Phillies a 5-1 cushion, but Howard set a Phillies record for most RBIs in a postseason.

Hamels continued to struggle and the Dodgers took advantage. The first of Chase Utley's throwing errors led to Manny Ramirez's two-run home run. The lead was cut to one. Raul Ibanez changed that with a three-run blast, and some breathing room. Ibanez was the first left-handed hitter to homer off George Sherrill in over a year.

Chad Durbin, J.A Happ, and Chan Ho Park picked up Hamels’ pieces. Brad Lidge closed the doors to secure the Phillies first win in the National League Championship Series.

Other Top Moments:

May 2 vs the New York Yankees: For the second straight night, Brad Lidge blew a save. However, Carlos Ruiz came up big with a RBI double in the 11th. Phillies win, 4-3.

World Series Game 3 Preview

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New York Yankees (1-1) at Philadelphia Phillies (1-1)
Andy Pettitte, LHP vs. Cole Hamels, LHP

When asked if this year felt "more like a World Series" compared to last year's, Jimmy Rollins responded: "when we get to Philly, it will." The Fall Classic moves to Philadelphia with the series split at a game apiece. The Phillies are 11-1 at home in the postseason since 2008. "It makes it a lot more fun, because you know they're your fans, and you know how that sound can echo off your ears when they're not your fans," Rollins said.

Cole Hamels starts defending his World Series MVP award tonight, but he isn't going to win back-to-back MVPs unless he has an outstanding start tonight. His 2008 postseason heroics are almost forgotten with his 1-1, 6.75 ERA during this year's playoffs. He has kept walks to a minimal. He allowed 20 hits in 14.1 innings, but walked only two. Not only does he need to limit the hits, but Hamels needs to keep the ball in the yard. In his career against the Yankees, Hamels is 0-1 with a 2.77 ERA.

Hamels will be opposed by Andy Pettitte, the all-time postseason wins leader. Pettitte is a finesse pitcher, not overpowering. However, he has stretches where he lacks command. In all of his starts this postseason, Pettitte lasted 6.1 innings and did not allowed more than three runs. Pettite allowed four runs over seven innings against the Phillies in May. He hasn't pitched at Citizens Bank Park since 2006.

On Thursday, A.J Burnett was magnificent, and there wasn't much that the Phillies could do. Today, the right-handed bats will need to step it up, as Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, and Raul Ibanez are a combined 8-for-37 against Pettitte.

Phillies lineup: Rollins (SS), Victorino (CF), Utley (2B), Howard (1B), Werth (RF), Ibanez (LF), Feliz (3B), Ruiz (C), Hamels (P).

Greg Dobbs is available after recovering from the flu.

Yankees Lineup: Jeter (SS), Damon (LF), Teixeira (1B), A-Rod (3B), Posada (C), Cano (2B), Swisher (RF), Cabrera (CF), Pettitte (P).

Welcome to the National League, Yankees. No DH tonight.

Phillies Win the Pennant!

This doesn't get old! For the first time in franchise history, the Phillies win back-to-back National League pennants. The Phillies 10-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers sends them back to the World Series!

Andre Eithier's solo home run put the Dodgers on the board, but Jayson Werth's three-run shot changed the entire atmosphere. Werth, who smacked two home runs, tipped his cap and raised his arms to the fired up crowd. That was the attitude for the rest of the game. The Phillies took a 3-1 lead and didn't look back. Even when the Dodgers loaded the bases with nobody out in the eighth inning, there was never doubt that the Phillies would lose.

It wasn't a good homecoming for Vicente Padilla, who allowed six runs. The Phillies kept tacking on. Pedro Feliz and Shane Victorino each homered. Raul Ibanez added a RBI double. Victorino waited for Ronnie Belliard's fly ball to reach his glove as Carlos Ruiz and Brad Lidge rejoiced on the pitcher's mound with the rest of the team joining them.

Cole Hamels, who looked shaky in his 4.1 innings, handed over his NLCS MVP to Ryan Howard. Howard deservedly earned honors, driving in a run in eight consecutive games (which ended on Wednesday). Howard batted .333 with two home runs and eight RBI during the Championship series.

This series was amazing. Cliff Lee's eight inning shutout and Jimmy Rollins' walk-off were two of the top highlights during one of the best postseason series in franchise history. Celebrate Philadelphia, but we still need four more wins!

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Phillies Survive Game One With 8-6 Win

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It’s never easy. The Phillies survived an 8-6 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers, taking a 1-0 advantage in the National League Championship Series. The pitching was shaky, but home runs by Carlos Ruiz and Raul Ibanez proved to be the difference.

There were hopes that Cole Hamels would return to form, especially against a team that he had so much success against. However, he is a completely different pitcher than the one who posted a sub-2 earned run average during the 2008 postseason. The Dodgers took a 1-0 lead on James Loney’s second inning home run. For awhile, it looked like that was all Clayton Kershaw would need. The 21-year old left-hander shut out the Phillies for four innings, but his 5.23 ERA against them this season showed that it wouldn’t last.

Carlos Ruiz showed why it’s ”Choochtober.” Ruiz is batting .348 with 10 RBI, five extra base hits, and eight walks in 18 postseason games. Ruiz’s three run home run gave the Phillies a 3-1 lead. In the same inning, Ryan Howard stroked a double down the right field line, similar to his hit during the final game of the division series. Howard’s 18 postseason runs batted in set a Phillies record. The Phillies took a 5-1 lead, but it didn’t take long for the Dodgers to strike back.

Hamels needed a “shut down inning.” He allowed a few base runners, but was close to escaping the jam. Andre Eithier grounded a dead double play ball, but Chase Utley airmailed the throw to first. The play was not fully Utley’s fault. Jimmy Rollins failed to get the ball out of his glove quickly. A run scored with Manny Ramirez due up. We all remember the troubles “Mannywood” gave the Phillies in last year’s NLCS. He had no trouble causing more problems. Manny smashed a deep fly ball to center field, stared at it for 15 minutes, then rounded the bases for a two-run home run. The lead was cut to one.

Hamels didn’t last much longer. He gave up four runs on eight hits in 5.1 innings. He struck out four and walked one. He now has a 6.97 ERA this postseason.

George Sherill hadn’t allowed a home run to a left-handed batter since June 14, 2008 against Adam LaRoche. The Dodgers acquired Sherill from the Baltimore Orioles for a reason: to get out lefties. Raul Ibanez had a different plan. Ibanez’s two-run shot gave the Phillies an 8-5 lead, and a little more breathing room.

Together, Chad Durbin and J.A Happ picked up Hamels’ pieces. Happ worked through a bases loaded jam without allowing a run to cross. Chan Ho Park, who just returned from a hamstring injury, was excellent in his seventh inning relief appearance. Park retired the three batters he faced and clocked 96 mph on the radar gun. On the other hand, Ryan Madson was atrocious in the eighth inning. He was lucky he did not allow more than two runs.

The ninth inning brought on Brad Lidge. Matt Kemp greeted him with a single. When the lead-off runner reaches base against Lidge, it’s usually a bad sign. However, Casey Blake hit a sharp ground ball to Utley. Utley made a fantastic play on a short hop, and was able to turn the double play. Ronnie Belliard flied out to end the game.

Friday, Pedro Martinez will start against former Phillie Vicente Padilla. A 2-0 series lead would be nice to return to Philadelphia with. Since the League Championship Series was extended to seven games, game one winners are 28-18. 29 doesn’t sound too bad.

Hamels Struggles; Rockies Even Series

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A perfect record at home last postseason was a key factor in last year’s World Championship. Today, the Phillies lost their first playoff game at home since 2007. The Rockies edged the Phillies, 5-4, evening the series at a game apiece.

Last October, Hamels stepped up as the big game pitcher. Today, he looked more like the pitcher that went 0-6 during day games than the one who earned the NLCS and World Series MVP.

Hamels cruised through the first three innings, allowing a run on a fielder’s choice. A curveball that hung over the plate to Yorvit Torrealba changed everything. Torrealba’s two-run home run gave the Rockies a 3-0 lead and silenced the crowd for most of the game.

Hamels was finished after five, and left the ballpark to be with his wife who went into labor. Hamels allowed four earned runs on seven hits and struck out five.

It took awhile for the offense to wake up. Ryan Howard’s RBI double and Raul Ibanez’s RBI single made it a one-run game. The rally was killed when Carlos Ruiz grounded into an inning-ending double play. The Phillies grounded into a total of three double plays in game two.

Charlie Manuel showed his lack of confidence in his bullpen by using starters Joe Blanton and J.A Happ. Happ entered the game after Blanton got into a jam, but exited after being struck by a line drive. He suffered a knee contusion and X-Rays were negative. Scott Eyre was able to escape the jam, only allowing a sacrifice fly. An inning later, Antonio Bastardo struck out Jason Giambi with the bases loaded and two outs to end the threat.

Dexter Fowler sacrifice flied twice to add onto the Rockies’ lead. Jayson Werth homered in the eighth inning, cutting the lead to one. The ninth inning became interesting when Matt Stairs walked and Jimmy Rollins singled, but the Phillies fell short against Huston Street.

The outcome is frustrating, but there are a few positives to take from today; Cole Hamels did not walk a batter and the Phillies went 3-for-6 with runners in scoring position. The series heads to Colorado on Saturday, where it is expected to snow. Using Blanton and Happ makes Pedro Martinez the favorite to start, but also questions Charlie Manuel’s managing style during Game 2.

Part III: NLDS Preview: Starting Rotation

This is Part III of the NLDS Preview. Read Part II here. The full preview is on Phillies Nation.

Like their offenses, the Phillies and Rockies pitching staffs match up fairly equally. Both teams are known for their offense, but it would not be surprising to see a low scoring game.

The Phillies pitching staff collectively has a 4.16 earned run average, sixth in the National Legaue. The Rockies pitching staff ranked eighth, posting a team ERA of 4.22. Their starting rotation posted a 4.10 ERA, beating the Phillies’ 4.29 ERA. Despite blowing the most saves in baseball, the Phillies bullpen collected a 3.91 ERA. On paper, the Rockies bullpen appears to be stronger, however their ‘pen posted a 4.53 ERA.

The Phillies hit a lot of home runs, but they also allow a lot. The Phillies gave up 189 home runs, second most in the National League. The Rockies kept the ball in the yard, surrendering 141. Both staffs allowed an opponents batting average of approximately .330.

The Phillies caught a break by not facing Jorge De La Rosa, the Rockies’ leader in wins. Cliff Lee and Ubaldo Jiminez were handed the ball in game one. Jiminez’s velocity was impressive, topping in the high 90’s. The 25-year old went 15-12 with a 3.47 ERA during the season. Lee was a perfect 5-0 with a 0.68 ERA when he first came over from the Cleveland Indians. Then, Lee went on a cold spell, but he returned to form yesterday. Unlike Jiminez, Lee previously did not have any postseason experience. In addition, he threw a career high in innings pitched, but that did not prevent him from throwing a complete game. Jiminez has made it a habit of struggling against the Phillies. In the regular season, he allowed nine runs and fourteen hits in ten innings. Lee allowed one run in seven innings against the Rockies in August, and one run again on Wednesday.

Aaron Cook and Cole Hamels will pitch in game two. Cook was bothered by a sore shoulder throughout the season, but is still an effective ground ball pitcher. At Citizens Bank Park, Cook is 1-1 with a 3.75 ERA. Cole Hamels, last year’s NLCS and World Series MVP, hopes for another postseason run. Hamels’ roller coaster season ended with a 4.32 ERA and 1.28 walks and hits per innings pitched.

Joe Blanton and J.A Happ will start the postseason in the bullpen, but will likely start in games three and four respectively. Happ is a top candidate for the Rookie of the Year Award. He recorded the most wins of any Phillies rookie since the 1980’s. Blanton has been an inning eater, and rebounded from his 0-2, 8.41 ERA start.

The Rockies rotation also includes Jason Marquis, who quietly had a solid season. He went 15-13 with a 4.04 ERA. Marquis allows a lot of hits; 218 in 216 innings. However, the Phillies lineup batted .208 against him this season. The Rockies final starter will be either Jose Contreras or Jason Hammel. Since coming over from the Chicago White Sox, Contreras is 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA in seven games. As a starter, Hammel is 10-8 with a 4.45 ERA.