Monday, May 12, 2014

2014 Topps Turkey Red #59 Cole Hamels

Mets 5, Phillies 4 (11 Innings)
Game 36 - Sunday Afternoon, May 11th in Flushing
Record - 17-19, Tied for 4th Place, 4 games behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  Cole Hamels pitched one of the gutsier games of his career, but the bullpen couldn't hold a four-run lead and the Mets won in extras, 5-4.

What It Means:  This game was hard to watch.  As soon as Hamels left the game, after throwing a career high 133 pitches, the Phillies weak bullpen was put on full display for all to see.  Again.

What Happened:  Hamels allowed a run in his seven innings of work while striking out 10 and he handed the bullpen a 4-1 lead.  In line for his 100th career victory, he had to watch from the dugout as Antonio Bastardo blew up in the ninth, allowing three runs on three hits.  Long-man Jeff Manship pitched a scoreless 10th but only recorded one out in the 11th (on a sac bunt) before the Mets scored the winning run.

Closer Jonathan Papelbon was unavailable to pitch in this game because he was "sore."

Featured Card:  The facial expression Hamels is modeling on this card matches the look on my face when Manship allowed the winning run to score - resigned indignation.

2 comments:

Steve F. said...

Even my kindergartner is gutsier than Papelbon when it comes to playing through soreness.

Sigh. How much longer left on Papelbon-bon's contract?

Jim said...

He's signed through 2015 with a vesting option for 2016. I have to imagine that if the Phillies are completely out of it by this summer, they'd entertain shipping him somewhere for a prospect or two.