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Hamels has career night in Phillies' win over Reds

Apr 22, 2007 - 5:25 AM CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- The clubhouse meeting must have gotten through to Cole Hamels and the Philadelphia Phillies.

Hamels struck out a career-high 15 batters and the Phillies turned the first triple play of the season in a 4-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds in the middle game of a three-game series.

Philadelphia, considered to be a real threat to the New York Mets in the National League East, had lost 10 its first 15 games prompting manager Charlie Manuel to call a closed door team meeting before Saturday's game.

"Timing is everything," said Manuel, who decided to call the meeting after letting a game slip away on Friday when Brandon Phillips singled off Tom Gordon in the 10th inning for a 2-1 win.

"Our guys understand where we are and that we're better than we've played," Manuel said They want to get better. We talked fundamentals and about experiences. I let everybody - players, coaches talk. I think everybody got something out of it. If you didn't something is wrong with you."

Hamels (2-0) responded by throwing his first career complete game against the team he made his debut against last May. His 15 strikeouts surpassed his previous high of 12, which he accomplished twice last year, once in July against Atlanta, and again in August vs. St. Louis.

"I was able to execute even when the count wasn't in my favor," Hamels said.

Hamels noted that the team meeting seemed to serve its purpose.

"The motivation we had made us relax a bit," Hamels said. "It allowed us to go out and execute."

Hamels executed his pitches almost flawlessly, and it led to the most strikeouts in the majors since Jason Schmidt struck out 16 for the San Francisco Giants against the Florida Marlins on June 6 of last season.

"It was the best game I've ever caught," catcher Rod Barajas said. "That kind of game you don't see too often. He made one mistake but didn't give them much to hit. He pitched smart."

The 24-year-old allowed just one run and five hits while walking just two batters. He struck out the side in the first and recorded two strikeouts in a frame four times.

After he yielded a homer to Jeff Conine in the second, Hamels retired 10 of the last 13 batters he faced before running into trouble in the fifth.

Hamels, a second-year starter, got a huge lift from his defense to get out of a jam in the fifth.

With runners on first and second, David Ross hit into an around-the-horn triple play - the first by the Phillies since 1999.

"That probably saved 10-15 pitches or I wouldn't have been able to go out in the ninth," Hamels said. "It was the most exciting play I've seen. The inning was going bad and that play came out of nowhere. It was exciting."

With the score, 2-1, Hamels walked Josh Hamilton to leadoff the frame, and Edwin Encarnacion followed witha single to right.

David Ross, who was mired in a 4-for-38 slump then hit sharp ground ball to that led third baseman Abraham Nunez right to the bag. Nunez quickly stepped on third and fired to Chase Utley at second. Utley then stood his ground with Encarnacion sliding at his knees, and fired to first just in time to get the slow-footed Ross.

"I swear to God. It was in my mind when Ross came to bat," Nunez said. "I thought he's the perfect guy. I usually move to my left but thought I'd move in and to the right. If he hit one and we didn't get it. We'd get two outs and the pitcher batting with the runner on first. When he actually hit it I thought here it is."

It was the first time the Reds hit into a double play since 1997.

Chase Utley went 3-for-4 and supplied all the offense the Phillies needed. He hit a solo homer - his third of the season - and a two-run double as Philadelphia made due without 2006 NL MVP Ryan Howard (knee) for the third straight game.

Aaron Rowand hit his second homer in the eighth for the Phillies, who lost the series opener in 10 innings on Friday.

Eric Milton (0-3) allowed three runs and six hits in six innings.

"It was a nice day. Anytime you win its a nice day," Utley said. "Anytime you get results you feel good. Losing hurts and that's a good thing. If it hurts you have the right character."