Phillie’s Cole Can’t Catch A Break

Cole Hamels had seemed to have it figured out tonight against the Nationals.  The Nats are a good team to get well against, but their offense can show pccasional signs of life. They roughed up the Phillies staff last night, but Hamels had his best combination of velocity and command tonight.  He dominated Washington through four and 1/3 innings at Citizens Bank Park. 

The injury occured as Hamels raced off the mound to field a bunt attempt.  Replays showed a nasty turn of the ankle, but Hamels did walk off the field under his own power. It’s the latest set back for the Phillies ace who left his last start after being struck by a line drive off the bat of Prince Fielder, and missed time in Spring Training with elbow inflammation. 

The Phillies can’t afford for Hamels to miss too much time given the suspect strength of their starting rotation, but the offense remains healthy, staking Hamels to a 5-0 lead courtesy of home runs from Pedro Feliz and Chase Utley who added his second homer of the night in the fifth.