The Marlins gave the ball to their ace Jose Fernandez, who has been stellar this season after recently coming off of Tommy John surgery.
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Neither starter was around when Jeff Francoeur hit a two-run walk-off homer against A.J.
Instead, Hamels says he has himself in a bit of a pitching funk that happens from time to time. In his last two starts, Hamels has combined to pitch 6 1/3 innings while allowing 14 runs and 20 hits, causing his ERA to jump from 3.02 to 3.91. The Hamels-to-Boston rumors have died down lately after months of speculation, but it appears the door hasn’t closed for the two clubs to get something done. “I’m hoping that he’s going to be fine”. “I don’t know the extent of it until I see the doctor”.
Could that be a lack of focus because of the approaching trade deadline? Over his past two outings – against the San Francisco Giants and the Marlins – Hamels is 0-2 with a 19.91 ERA. After his start, Hamels said he is healthy and interim manager Pete Mackanin said he’s physically fine. The hold up in a potential trade of Papelbon is his contract.
“A little tightness”, Billingsley said.
“I know everybody in the clubhouse looks up to him”, Mackanin said. It might have, a little bit, but that’s no excuse. “I got through five (innings) and I just didn’t want to push it much more….” His numbers at every stop have been less than impressive including Triple-A Lehigh Valley where he was 0-6, with a 4.74 ERA. His next outing is scheduled for Saturday against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. He doesn’t believe he needs a good performance to prove to teams interested in acquiring him that he’s still an elite pitcher.
“I just kind of ran into it”, Morgan said of the pitch he doubled into left-center in the sixth. It was uncharacteristic of him to waste what could be considered an offensive outburst.
But back came the Marlins, who chased Hamels with three more runs the very next inning to erase the deficit. Giles would take over Papelbon’s closer role if the Phillies grant the veteran pitcher his wish and trade him. Actually, he said, it’s kind of an exciting time. “It is what it is”.
“I think when you’re not able to throw strike one you’re going to be putting yourself in a favorable count for hitters to expect fastballs and expects pitches that are going to be over the heart of the plate”, Hamels said.
Contact Meghan Montemurro at [email protected].
During a massive rebuilding project the Philadelphia Phillies and their fans are struggling through a nightmare season. Cesar Hernandez and Freddy Galvis each drove in two runs. After a one-out Odubel Herrera double, Galvis hit his fourth home run to right center, giving the Phils a 3-2 lead.
“Pinch-hitting’s fun, too”, Francoeur added. Since June 6, Francoeur is hitting. Francouer responded to the adverse situation smashing a home run to left field a walk-off two run shot netting the Phillies their 32nd victory on the season. However, Gillespie misplayed the ball and it hit off the edge of his glove and fell to the field.
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The Phillies moved to 30-62 on the season while the Marlins are now 38-52 on the season. “You’ve got to grind away and take the next couple days to just get back to square one and go back out there on my next day is Saturday”. It’s the first of three between the National League East rivals. “It was good to see everyone hit this weekend”.
