Game Reax: Hamels' Woes Continue In Loss To Marlins

Cole Hamels was pitching brilliantly in May

Was is the operative word.

After posting a 1-0 record and a 0.00 ERA in starts against the Braves and Nationals earlier in the month, Hamels has been ineffective in his last two outings. He surrendered six earned runs over four innings Sunday, May 25 against the Astros... but the Phillies' offense scored 15 runs and the team won in a rout.

Saturday night versus the Marlins, Hamels was supposed to bounce back like the No. 1 starter he's labeled to be. The 24-year-old even had the benefit of an extra day's rest.

Well, nothing seemed to work as the Fish pounded the left-hander and rolled to a 7-3 victory.

Hamels lasted only 5 2/3 innings and gave up seven earned runs on eight hits, including three home runs. In these two un-Hamels-like outings, Cole has seen his ERA balloon from 2.61 to 3.73.

Not good.

Hamels' problem against the Marlins, who regained their half-game lead in the NL East and snapped Philly's season-high five-game win streak, was get-em-over fastballs. The Marlins are a young, hungry and --for better or worse -- impatient team that can hit the heck out of a meatball. Hamels apparently missed that portion of the scouting report.

Hamels is scheduled to make his next start Thursday against the Reds.

Game Notes & Opinions

- Chase Utley belted his MLB-best 19th homer of the year in the eighth inning. Utley's dinger sealed his place in Phillies history. With the longball, Utley now has more home runs before the month of June than any other player who has donned the red pinstripes.

- Ryan Howard's run-scoring groundout in the third inning tied him with Houston's Carlos Lee for most RBIs in the month of May (30) in the National League. It's amazing that Howard, who has struggled just about the entire season, has 15 homers and 42 RBIs despite a .206 batting average.

- Even in a lopsided loss like this one, it's always great to see the bullpen get the job done. Believe me when I tell you that Philly's bullpen performance this year has been a godsend. Saturday night, Rudy Seanez (2.57 ERA) and Ryan Madson (3.60) combined to pitch 3 1/3 scoreless innings.