Chicago Cubs @ Philadelphia Phillies GameThread, Apr 12, 2008 7:05 PM EDT

Game 12: Lilly (0-1, 9.72) vs. Hamels (1-1, 1.20)

by dajafi on Apr 12, 2008 6:00 PM EDT

Chicago Cubs @ Philadelphia Phillies

Two lefties square off at OFJOAB tonight as the Phillies try to secure their first series victory of the young 2008 season. They'll go behind ace Cole Hamels, whose 1-1 record belies a brilliant start to the year: Hamels was dominant in eight innings of a 1-0 loss to Washington on April 2, then withstood a shaky first inning to beat the Reds five days later. Against the Cubs, Hamels is 2-1 with a 4.24 ERA in his career, including two wins last season.

Ted Lilly takes the mound for Chicago, trying for his first victory of 2008 after a pair of subpar performances. In two starts against the Phillies in 2007, Lilly went 1-1 with a 3.46 ERA; the victory was an eight-inning, three-hit gem in Philadelphia last May.

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Hamels in the first

Three flyouts, two of which went to the warning track. But he got ahead of all three hitters, and hopefully he'll calm down.

Victorino really is swinging at absolutely everything right now. I would have led off Werth tonight. They desperately need Rollins to get well.

by dajafi on Apr 12, 2008 7:18 PM EDT 0 recs

Three more outs in the air

Five pitch inning for Cole in the 2nd. Two of them, again, were almost-homers. Victorino ended the frame with a great catch crashing into the wall.

by dajafi on Apr 12, 2008 7:29 PM EDT 0 recs

Pedro Feliz...2 run bomb

And in other news, hell has just frozen over.

by FuquaManuel on Apr 12, 2008 7:32 PM EDT 0 recs

He's making it more difficult to hate him.

Meanwhile, Burrell had gotten on ahead of Ruiz with another walk.

by dajafi on Apr 12, 2008 7:33 PM EDT 0 recs

Cole walks on wudder

Hamels doubles with two outs. He's now hitting .500 (3 for 6) on the season.

by dajafi on Apr 12, 2008 7:34 PM EDT 0 recs

Hey

I'm from Brew Crew Ball. I came here to cheer against the Cubs with you guys, but there doesn't seem to be much action here; where does everyone congregate?

He's extremely quick and good.

by battlekow on Apr 12, 2008 7:54 PM EDT 0 recs

Howard has looked really terrible thus far in the season. Hope he turns it on soon.

by FuquaManuel on Apr 12, 2008 7:55 PM EDT 0 recs

lineup

Howard is really out of whack, but Utley isn't going very well right now either. He's had two bad ABs tonight--the first-pitch popup in the 2nd was damaging.

by dajafi on Apr 12, 2008 7:59 PM EDT 0 recs

yeah. but at least Utley came out of the gates smoking...Howard has looked like the really bad version of Howard from last season. Of course he will put it together eventually, but I see nothing in his approach to hitting that suggests he will be much different from last season.

by FuquaManuel on Apr 12, 2008 8:04 PM EDT up 0 recs

clarification

by "really bad version of howard from last season" I don't mean that Howard was really bad last season...just that he had a stretch where he looked particularly terrible.

by FuquaManuel on Apr 12, 2008 8:06 PM EDT up 0 recs

lefties

Lilly has embarrassed him in two ABs tonight. We know Howard isn't his usual monster self against LHP anyway, but when he's going badly, he looks like me against them...

by dajafi on Apr 12, 2008 8:06 PM EDT up 0 recs

there we go

Hamels hasn't been in any trouble tonight, but Johnson leading off the fourth was his first K of the game. Matthews and McCarthy noting that Hamels has thrown more FBs and fewer changeups thus far; he might be switching it up now.

...and as I type, Lee doubles to the right-center gap.

by dajafi on Apr 12, 2008 8:01 PM EDT 0 recs

nasty

Hamels comes back from 3-1 to whiff Aram-Ram on two changes.

Now behind Soto, 3-0. Control has been a bit spotty tonight... swings on 3-0, Feliz gets him.

by dajafi on Apr 12, 2008 8:05 PM EDT 0 recs

I know its early in the season, blah, blah, blah...But I am ready to induct Bruntlett into the "worst-players-ever-to-wear-a-Phillies uniform hall of fame". This man is good for just about nothing...can't field, can't hit, can't even bunt.

Rollins needs to come back...now.

by FuquaManuel on Apr 12, 2008 8:12 PM EDT 0 recs

and then Bruntlett goes and makes a great catch...unreal...

even a broken clock is right twice a day.

by FuquaManuel on Apr 12, 2008 8:15 PM EDT up 0 recs

Don't hold back, tell us how you really feel. Seriously, didja ever think you'd miss Tomas?

by Steve-O- on Apr 12, 2008 8:15 PM EDT up 0 recs

sarge, sarge, sarge...

I really, really didn't Matthews telling me that "Mo-ace Alou stays hard."

He was referring to Alou's tendency to look fastball no matter what the count or context. But still.

by dajafi on Apr 12, 2008 8:17 PM EDT 0 recs

Pitch count...

Cole is at 76 pitches through 5. Hopefully he can be more efficient and make it through 7.

by FuquaManuel on Apr 12, 2008 8:20 PM EDT 0 recs

thru 5...

Hamels has allowed a hit and a walk, and struck out three. His pitch count, 76, is a little higher than ideal, but they should be able to get two more out of him.

by dajafi on Apr 12, 2008 8:20 PM EDT 0 recs

Shane coming alive?

He's been a little better the last few games. Second hit of the night, a little dribbler up the middle. Time for larceny.

by dajafi on Apr 12, 2008 8:23 PM EDT 0 recs

Rotation Rounding into Shape.

Myers looked good and Hamels looks even better tonight. Go Phillies!!

Mark

by blogging-fool on Apr 12, 2008 8:28 PM EDT 0 recs

game slows to a crawl...

Lilly constantly throwing over. Again and again and again. I like it when Moyer does it, but c'mon...

by dajafi on Apr 12, 2008 8:29 PM EDT 0 recs

There you go chase, double down the RF line.

Howard's turn.

by FuquaManuel on Apr 12, 2008 8:30 PM EDT 0 recs

Your comments about Howard are now sufficiently in my head that I was hoping they'd send Chase, since Ryan is K-crazy right now...

by dajafi on Apr 12, 2008 8:31 PM EDT up 0 recs

hahaha. Howard homers to right.

I think these guys are purposely trying to prove me wrong.

by FuquaManuel on Apr 12, 2008 8:34 PM EDT up 0 recs

woohoo!

Howard 2-run bomb. 5-0 Phils!

by dajafi on Apr 12, 2008 8:34 PM EDT 0 recs

Pat Burrell's eye is amazing. Great at-bat to go from 1-2 to drawing a walk.

by FuquaManuel on Apr 12, 2008 8:40 PM EDT 0 recs

Pedro Feliz restores order to the universe by grounding into an inning ending double play.

by FuquaManuel on Apr 12, 2008 8:42 PM EDT 0 recs

every time he does that...

I hear the words "THE PROPHESY HAS BEEN FULFILLED"

by dajafi on Apr 12, 2008 8:43 PM EDT up 0 recs

Hamels

I love the kid but who doesn't. My only concern is the 11 fly outs tonight. If the weather was warmer a couple might of gone out. But bear in mind I only get what I hear on the radio.

by Steve-O- on Apr 12, 2008 8:48 PM EDT 0 recs

flyouts

Three more in the 6th. A few of them have been hit deep. Not many. He's been efficient and command generally has been good. It's worth worrying about a little, but it is fairly warm there (70s).

by dajafi on Apr 12, 2008 8:50 PM EDT up 0 recs