Final
Hamels, Phillies halt skid at 4 games
May 19, 2011 - 4:07 AM Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Wilson Valdez scored on a Jimmy Rollins sacrifice fly in the eighth inning, as the Phillies snapped a season-high four-game skid with a 2-1 win over the Colorado Rockies.Cole Hamels (5-2) was spectacular on the hill, allowing five hits and fanning eight batters over eight innings to get the win.
"I know Colorado is a great-hitting team," said Hamels. "I knew I needed to go deep into the ball game."
Ryan Madson gave up a leadoff double to pinch-hitter Seth Smith in the ninth, but struck out three batters to earn his seventh save. He finished it off by fanning pinch-hitter Jason Giambi.
Valdez singled in a run in the fifth inning. That was among only five hits for Philadelphia, which was coming off an unsuccessful 3-5 road trip.
Jorge De La Rosa (5-2) was the hard-luck loser in his first career complete game. The lefty was charged with five hits and fanned four batters.
"That was a great game and extremely well-pitched on both sides of the field," said Rockies manager Jim Tracy.
Carlos Gonzalez had a pair of hits and scored the lone run for the Rockies, who were coming off two home wins against San Francisco.
Valdez singled to left to start the bottom of the eighth. Pinch-hitter Shane Victorino put down a successful sacrifice bunt, and Valdez advanced to third on a De La Rosa wild pitch. Rollins then lifted a fly ball to short right field. Ryan Spilborghs charged in to make the catch, but the throw home was late.
After Smith doubled down the right field line, Madson fanned Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki. Todd Helton, who entered the game 5-for-8 lifetime against Madson, was intentionally walked. Giambi then swung through a 2-2, 93 mph cut fastball to end the game.
The Phillies won despite getting five hits or less for a fifth straight game, the first time that's happened to the franchise since 1969. They had just seven runs and 17 hits in their previous four contests.
"I'm concerned about it," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "But at the same time with the pitching we have, we keep working, we keep chipping away. We'll improve our offense. We're going to have to, that's the way I look at it."
Alfredo Amezaga walked with one out in the opening inning and tried to make it to third on a Gonzalez single to right, but was thrown out by John Mayberry Jr.
The Phillies took the lead in the fifth inning. Raul Ibanez singled to right and Carlos Ruiz was hit by a pitch. Both runners advanced on a passed ball before Valdez lined a single by a diving Jose Lopez at third base.
Hamels retired 14 in a row until Gonzalez doubled to center with one out in the seventh. Third baseman Placido Polanco then made a diving stop to rob Tulowitzki of a hit, but Helton tied the game with a slicing double to the left field corner.
Game Notes
Hamels, who had been 0-3 with an 8.22 ERA in three career starts against Colorado, including two appearances in the playoffs, surpassed the 1,000 innings pitched mark for his career...This two-game series concludes Thursday night with Jhoulys Chacin set to pitch for the Rockies and Joe Blanton for the Phillies...De La Rosa fell to 0-4 in seven lifetime games (five starts) against the Phillies...The Rockies have not won three straight games since taking a season-high seven in a row from April 9-15...This was the start of a nine-game homestand for the Phillies, who moved to 10-2 his season against left-handed starters...Philadelphia has just eight hits in its last 48 at-bats with runners in scoring position...Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard went hitless in three at-bats and is mired in an 0-for-16 slump...The Rockies have dropped seven in a row on the road in this series...Victorino, who didn't start for a fourth straight game, will have an MRI Thursday on his sore right hamstring.
- COLORADO: 1
PHILADELPHIA: 2
Final
May 18 9:35 PM - Jimmy Rollins sacrifice fly out to right scored Wilson Valdez. None on with two outs and Michael Martinez due up.
Rockies 1, Phillies 2 Bot 8, 2 OutsMay 18 9:17 PM - Todd Helton doubled to left scored Carlos Gonzalez. Runner on second with two outs and Jose Lopez due up.
Rockies 1, Phillies 1 Top 7, 2 OutsMay 18 8:48 PM - Wilson Valdez singled to left scored Raul Ibanez. On the play, Carlos Ruiz advances to third. Runners on first and third with one out and Cole Hamels due up.
Rockies 0, Phillies 1 Bot 5, 1 OutMay 18 8:24 PM - COLORADO: 0
PHILADELPHIA: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
May 18 7:09 PM
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