Cole Hamels leads Philadelphia Phillies over Los Angeles Dodgers 2-0 to clinch series – MLB Update
The Philadelphia Phillies’ starter Cole Hamels continued his form with the ball in the season, as he struck out nine batters in eight innings to help his club overpower the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-0 at the Citizens Bank Park on Wednesday, June 8.
The 27-year-old left-hand pitcher, making his 13th start of the season, tossed 77 strikes off 113 pitches and allowed just six hits over eight innings span to improve his record to 8-2 with 2.58 ERA. Hamels not only crushed the Dodgers with the ball but
also with words after the game.
He said, "You don't face them as much so I think if I faced them 30 times like I face the Mets; the record would kind of be different. I've been able to capitalize so far."
When Hamels handed the ball to closer Ryan Madson, the game has already gone in Phillies’ favour, as Madson confirmed the win for the club, pitching exclusive fastballs that crushed the Dodgers’ line-up.
After having seen such a phenomenal performance from the opponents’ pitchers, Dodgers’ manager Don Mattingly could not restrict himself from making some words of praise for the Phillies.
"That's the best I've seen him," Mattingly said. "He was really sharp. We knew we'd have to battle to get runs."
The Dodgers’ starter Hiroki Kuroda pitched strong first five innings before he allowed a one-run homer to Ryan Howard to nip a scoreless tie in the sixth inning.
"It was a bad pitch to Howard," Kuroda said. "It was a cutter inside but it wasn't inside enough. I can't be satisfied, because I'm out there to win and we didn't win."
Before going for this run, Kuroda has made seven strikeouts but this hit ended his spell with just five innings.
Mike McDougal, who replaced Kuroda, managed to escape in the remaining half of the sixth inning without allowing any run besides one strike-out. However, in the seventh inning, the Phillies’ right-fielder Domonic Brown drove in an RBI single off Dodgers’
reliever Matt Guerrier, who relieved McDougal in the start of the seventh inning. Closer Josh Lindblom did not allow any run in the last inning.
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