Cole Hamels pitched gem this afternoon. Nine strikeouts, one walk, and one earned run (HR) over seven innings. The Phils took the lead for Hamels in the bottom of the first with a lead off double from Jimmy Rollins, a sac bunt from Victorino, and a sac fly from Howard. That was all the runs the Phightless Phils had for the young lefty. The Phillies did make a game of it scoring 2 runs with 2 outs in the bottom of the ninth off of Jonathan Broxton. On the verge of a 1,2,3 top of the 10th Chad Durbin went two up two down and seemingly melted down after a payoff pitch failed to go his way. Durbin gave up two runs to give away the lead. Rookie Ramon Troncoso came in to save the game for Broxton setting down the Phillies on 13 pitches. It would have been less than 10 if Troncoso didn't hit Utley with two strikes and two outs.
On their complete 6 game homestand the Phils went 2-4 with a measely .187 batting average. They have a four game set against the Nats starting tomorrow night after a brief visit with President Obama. If the Phillies are going to compete this year, they need to find a way to get on base. Jimmy Rollins has struggled since retuning from the WBC. If he can't turn it around, don't be surprised to be sellers in July. This team goes as J-Roll goes. In his career, Rollins averaged almost a walk every 3 games. This season he at 1 walk per every 5 games. I don't understand how one hits well over .400 in the WBC and comes back and can't hit a lick. Jimmy needs to either sit down a day or resolve whatever problem he is having. SOON. Hopefully this is the slump the Phillies suffer from every year. It used to be the first two weeks in April. Now it's two weeks in May/June.
Keywords: Cole Hamels, Jimmy Rollins, Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies
