For one brief moment, Cole Hamels, one of the three big All-Star arms for the Phils, came crashing back to earth.
The left-hander, whose fall from grace was a rarity all season, got roughed up by the New York Mets for seven runs en route to the 11-2 loss suffered in Queens on Saturday afternoon.
It was the first start, since Hamels was roughed up by the same team in the 4th game of the season – his first start for six runs – in which he allowed more than four runs. He lasted only 4 1/3, allowing seven runs on eight hits and four walks while striking out three.
Hamels was tapped for a run in the 1st inning. After Scott Hairston’s two-out double, Daniel Murphy drove him in to make it a 1-0 game. Hamels was hit up for two more runs in the 3rd – and again by a Hairston double. But this time, Hairston’s two-bagger drove in a pair of runs, giving the Mets a 3-0 lead.
Pagan made it a 4-0 game with his sacrifice fly in the 4th. But it wasn’t until the 5th inning that the Mets blew the game wide open off Hamels. Murphy led off the inning with a solo home run to make it 5-0. Jason Bay followed up with a single and two-batters later, Nick Evans hit an RBI triple, chasing Hamels from the game. Reliever David Herndon allowed the inherited runner to score, making it a 7-0 game and topping off Hamels’ no-so friendly line score.
The Phils got two runs back in the 7th off Mets starter Jon Niese. Leading off the inning with three straight singles to load the bases, they tacked on two runs on a force play that was called safe and a double play ball by Jimmy Rollins to make it a 7-2 game.
Hairston’s day wasn’t done after the 5th. He drove in three more runs on a two-out home run off Danys Baez. Hairston’s day concluded with two doubles, a home run and five RBIs.
WP: Niese (9-7). LP: Hamels (11-5).
TTB 