Cole Hamels got into his first bit of trouble during the fifth inning… that is if you call a full count trouble.
Based on the way Hamels has been pitching so far, yes, a 3-2 count is a veritable rally.
But Hamels quashed it when he got Prince Fielder to chase the 3-2 pitch. Then he got J.J. Hardy to bounce a 2-2 pitch to short. Corey Hart wasn’t going to wait for 3-2 though. Instead he punched one to right for a solid single, 13 outs away from the no-no.
To this day, Kevin Millwood’s no-hitter against the Giants at The Vet is the only one I have ever seen. Ever. That counts little league, minor leagues and everything all over the map.
Except for wiffle ball, but that doesn’t count.
Either way, Hamels has six strikeouts and no walks through five.
Yovani Garrardo was not around to see the fifth inning. Instead, Dale Sveum brought in side-arming lefty Mitch Stetter to face the Phillies’ lefties Chase Utley and Ryan Howard. When righty Pat Burrell came up, Sveum went for Carlos Villanueva.
I believe that is Spanish for “New Village.”
Garrardo’s line: 4 IP, 3 R, 0 ER, 3 H, 5 BB, 3 K – 75 pitches, 37 strikes.
End of 5 Phillies 3, Brewers 0