Oct 1, 2008 - 10:46 PM
0 shoutsBy Vince DiGregorio PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer
The free-swinging Milwaukee Brewers ran into a lefthanded buzzsaw in Game One of the National League Division Series on Wednesday.
The Philadelphia Phillies rode their ace, Cole Hamels, in a 101-pitch outing that gave them a 3-1 victory and a one-game lead in the best-of-five series.
The lefthander retired 24 of the 27 batters he faced over eight innings, allowing two singles and a walk. Hamels recorded 16 first-pitch strikes and finished with nine strikeouts.
"I think, with the type of team that Milwaukee brings, they're very aggressive, but also very good," Hamels said. "So I just had to really establish the first-pitch strike just so I could get ahead of them and slow them down. That's what I was able to do and have success at it."
Hamels helped Philadelphia to its first postseason victory since Game Five of the 1993 World Series when Curt Schilling shut out the Toronto Blue Jays.
"I made a statement to somebody before the game started," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "I said if Cole was throwing and he's throwing strikes low with his fastball, changeup and breaking ball, he'll pitch good. He did a heck of a job. He was tremendous."
Schilling would gain folk hero status with the Boston Red Sox for winning a postseason game while pitching with a leg injury that was noticeable through a bloody sock.
Hamels used a more subtle approach to notch his first career postseason win.
To temper the excitement and tension of postseason play, the 24-year-old used a psychological form of ju-jitsu to turn a potential weakness into a strength against the Brewers. He not only mixed his pitches well and kept hitters off balance, but also had them guessing mentally.
"It's the excitement rush and the adrenaline," Hamels said. "The hitters have it, too. You have to calm it down and try to take a step backwards. I think that's what I was able to do and just take advantage of the excitement and the aggressiveness that the other team had."
The result was eight scoreless innings before Milwaukee scored a run in the ninth off closer Brad Lidge.
"Cole just took the bull by the horns tonight and went out there and was in complete command," Lidge said. "He set the tone with his demeanor and with his ability. Just watching him was a lot of fun tonight."
Hamels, a native of southern California, also had to deal with windy and occasionally rainy conditions during the contest.
"I'm not really used to dealing with rain, pitching-wise," Hamels said. "I knew if I still kept it down in the zone, either it would be a grounder or (I would) strike them out."
Milwaukee center fielder Mike Cameron offered the same opinion about Hamels' effectiveness.
"He had a really good changeup today," Cameron said. "Good deception on his changeup. Kept it down. Changed speeds on us."
It was left for Phillies second baseman Chase Utley to give Hamels the ultimate testimonial afterward.
"I've said this before, but I'm glad Cole is on our side," Utley said. "He's a tough lefthanded pitcher. Throws hard. Glad he's on the mound for us."
