PHILLIES 8 REDS 4
Phillies’ rookie impressive in shutting down Reds
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Jim Massie
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
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CINCINNATI — The kid didn’t arrive from out of town in a vacuum.
Reds manager Jerry Narron heard about Philadelphia rookie left-hander Cole Hamels a couple of weeks ago in a telephone call from Donnie Scott, the manager of Cincinnati’s Class A affiliate in Sarasota, Fla.
"He faced Sarasota," Narron said of Hamels, who made his major-league debut last night in Great American Ball Park. "Donnie Scott was saying there’s a guy on the Phillies that will be in the big leagues before the year is up. I don’t think Donnie Scott knew that (Hamels) would be here in May. He really liked him."
The hype surrounding Hamels emanated from more directions than the Florida State League, and Narron was interested in seeing Philadelphia’s first-round pick in the June 2002 freeagent player draft pitch in person.
Despite some control problems, Hamels was as advertised. He handcuffed the Reds on one hit over six innings and helped the Phillies open the three-game series with an 8-4 victory. Hamels walked five and struck out seven, including Ken Griffey Jr. twice. Nobody hit a ball hard off him.
"He’s a pretty good pitcher," Narron said. "He’s got a good fastball, a live fastball with good late movement. He didn’t throw a lot of balls over the plate."
The performance by Hamels and a late bullpen meltdown by the Reds overshadowed a superb effort by Reds’ starter Elizardo Ramirez against his former teammates. Ramirez (1-3) checked the Phillies on seven hits over six-plus innings and reached a career-high seven strikeouts. He deserved better.
"It was a well-played game until late and it got really ugly," right fielder Austin Kearns said. "If we’re going to continue to stay in this thing for the long haul, we can’t afford to have the mistakes that happened"
First baseman Ryan Howard, the 2005 NL rookie of the year, produced the only major hiccup for Ramirez with a two-run home run in the fourth inning.
After Phillies manager Charlie Manuel pulled Hamels, the Reds immediately took advantage of reliever Ryan Madson (4-1). Kearns broke up the shutout with a solo homer into the upper deck in left field. One out later, Edwin Encarnacion tied it at 2 with a home run into the lower deck seats in left.
Philadelphia regained the lead by scoring an unearned run in the seventh. The Phillies put away the game by scoring five runs off relievers Matt Belisle, Brian Shackelford and Rick White. Shackelford issued three walks in the ninth inning and wild pitched a run home. White balked in another run to blunt a two-run ninth for the Reds.
"What really hurt us was the base on balls in the ninth inning gave them a chance to tack on some runs," Narron said. "We just can’t pitch two or three guys every night. We’ve got to get the others guys to keep it close and give us a chance when we’re behind"
The Reds lost left-fielder Ryan Freel to a tight left groin muscle in the fifth inning. He left the game after running out a grounder to Howard at first base and will be re-evaluated today.
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