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Hamels aiming for improved outing vs. Padres

Apr 17, 2009 - 4:57 AM By Brett Huston Stats Writer

San Diego (7-3) at Philadelphia (4-4) 7:05 p.m. EDT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Cole Hamels had to wait four days after the Philadelphia Phillies' opener to make his 2009 debut because of elbow trouble. Thanks to a rainout earlier this week, he's had to wait a few more to make amends for that disastrous outing.

The World Series MVP will try to bounce back from his rocky first start Friday night in the opener of a four-game set against the San Diego Padres at Citizens Bank Park, where the Phillies return home for the first time since the death of legendary broadcaster Harry Kalas.

Hamels was 4-0 with a 1.80 ERA in five starts during the 2008 postseason, and the lone outing he didn't earn a decision wound up being the clinching game of Philadelphia's first World Series title since 1980.

Hamels (0-1, 17.18 ERA), though, felt tightness in his elbow during spring training, a problem that caused enough concern to delay his first start from opening day to last Friday at Colorado.

After that performance, Hamels probably wishes it had been pushed back a bit longer. The left-hander didn't have his usual velocity as he lasted 3 2/3 innings, giving up seven runs and 11 hits as the Phillies were pummeled 10-3.

"Cole Hamels doesn't pitch at 86 mph. He pitches 88, 93. That's a huge difference," manager Charlie Manuel said. "That tells me that he's not quite ready yet. He threw 80 pitches and he got some work in, but at the same time he's way better than that."

Philadelphia still planned to have Hamels make his regularly scheduled start Wednesday in Washington, but a rainout pushed it to Friday.

"Getting Cole back out there as quick as we can is important," Manuel told the team's official Web site. "Right at this moment, I don't know if the extra rest is good for him or not."

Hamels won both of his starts against the Padres last season, allowing three runs in 15 1/3 innings.

Though Hamels is expected to get a healthy ovation in his first start at Citizens Bank Park since Game 5 of the World Series, the focus for many fans will be on Kalas, the team's longtime broadcaster who passed away at age 73 on Monday prior to the Phillies' game in Washington.

Kalas, who joined the organization in 1971, is to be honored before Friday's first pitch.

Following Kalas' passing on Monday, Philadelphia beat the Nationals 9-8 behind three RBI from Ryan Howard, but the offense was mostly silent on Thursday. Washington, meanwhile, hit four homers in an 8-2 win.

"We have had a lot of distractions and a lot of things going on, and we need to get on with our season," Manuel said.

The Padres come in on a more positive note, having won six of seven. They took two of three from the New York Mets, winning the finale 6-5 on Thursday behind a 4-for-4 night and three RBI from young left fielder Chase Headley.

"Chase has the potential to hit in the middle of the order. You have to remember, he has less than a year in the big leagues," manager Bud Black told the Padres' official Web site. "We see that Chase can do some things offensively."

San Diego will start a pitcher who's looked perhaps as sharp as any in the majors through two outings. Chris Young (2-0, 1.38) gave up two runs over six innings in his season debut, then conceded only an unearned run while striking out seven over seven innings Sunday in a 6-1 win over San Francisco, outpitching Giants ace Tim Lincecum.

Young is 2-1 with a 1.96 ERA in three career starts against the Phillies, including a six-inning, two-run outing in a 4-2 win at Philadelphia on April 30.

Second baseman Chase Utley, who's hitting .393 (11-for-28), is 3-for-8 with a homer in his career against Young.