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Rapid Reaction: Philadelphia Phillies 5, Chicago Cubs 0 - Chicago Cubs Blog - ESPN
CHICAGO -- If Saturday's start was an audition, Philadelphia Phillies ace Cole Hamels couldn't have done more to impress the Chicago Cubs. Hamels, rumored to be a trade target of Chicago, tossed a no-hitter in the Phillies' 5-0 victory over the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
Hamels (6-7) allowed just a pair of walks and struck out 13. He retired Cubs rookie slugger Kris Bryant for the final out, a deep drive that center fielder Odubel Herrera caught on the warning track with a diving effort. Herrera nearly overran the ball but lunged forward at the last second.
There was hesitation for a moment to determine whether Herrera had indeed caught the ball. Once when they were certain did the Phillies players rush onto the field.
Here's a quick look at the game.
How it happened: Hamels has had an up-and-down season but allowed only two runners to reach second base Saturday -- and both did so via the stolen base.
In his previous six starts, Cubs starter Jake Arrieta was 5-0 with a 0.96 ERA and hadn't given up more than two runs in any game. He wasn't bad in this one but was hurt by one bad pitch to veteran first baseman Ryan Howard in the third inning.
Down in the count 1-0, Arrieta threw a curveball that broke down and in to the lefty slugger. Howard reached out and lifted a high drive to left-center that landed in the first row of the bleachers for a three-run shot. Perhaps more regrettable to Arrieta than the pitch to Howard was walking the previous batter, Maikel Franco, to bring Howard to the plate with two on and two out.
The Phillies took advantage of a throwing error by Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo to add a couple of insurance runs in the eighth inning. With Cody Asche on first with one out, Freddy Galvis lifted a blooper to short right field. Second baseman Addison Russell made a diving attempt but the ball skipped off his glove. Asche went to third and Galvis pulled into second with a double. Rizzo, though, picked up the ball and tried to fire it to third, but his wild attempt bounced into left field, allowing both runners to score.
What it means: Hamels was hit hard in each of his previous two starts -- allowing a combined 14 earned runs on 20 hits in 6 1/3 innings against the San Francisco Giants and Miami Marlins -- making this start crucial for his trade possibilities before next week's trading deadline.
Hamels certainly showed all who were watching -- especially the Cubs -- that there's nothing wrong with his stuff. He consistently threw his fastball 94, 95 mph and effectively changed speeds by mixing in his cutter (90 mph), curveball (79, 80) and changeup (86).
The left-hander struck out the side in the sixth and seventh inning and recorded a double-digit strikeout game for the 29th time in his career.
Hamels (6-7) allowed just a pair of walks and struck out 13. He retired Cubs rookie slugger Kris Bryant for the final out, a deep drive that center fielder Odubel Herrera caught on the warning track with a diving effort. Herrera nearly overran the ball but lunged forward at the last second.
There was hesitation for a moment to determine whether Herrera had indeed caught the ball. Once when they were certain did the Phillies players rush onto the field.
Here's a quick look at the game.
How it happened: Hamels has had an up-and-down season but allowed only two runners to reach second base Saturday -- and both did so via the stolen base.
In his previous six starts, Cubs starter Jake Arrieta was 5-0 with a 0.96 ERA and hadn't given up more than two runs in any game. He wasn't bad in this one but was hurt by one bad pitch to veteran first baseman Ryan Howard in the third inning.
Down in the count 1-0, Arrieta threw a curveball that broke down and in to the lefty slugger. Howard reached out and lifted a high drive to left-center that landed in the first row of the bleachers for a three-run shot. Perhaps more regrettable to Arrieta than the pitch to Howard was walking the previous batter, Maikel Franco, to bring Howard to the plate with two on and two out.
The Phillies took advantage of a throwing error by Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo to add a couple of insurance runs in the eighth inning. With Cody Asche on first with one out, Freddy Galvis lifted a blooper to short right field. Second baseman Addison Russell made a diving attempt but the ball skipped off his glove. Asche went to third and Galvis pulled into second with a double. Rizzo, though, picked up the ball and tried to fire it to third, but his wild attempt bounced into left field, allowing both runners to score.
What it means: Hamels was hit hard in each of his previous two starts -- allowing a combined 14 earned runs on 20 hits in 6 1/3 innings against the San Francisco Giants and Miami Marlins -- making this start crucial for his trade possibilities before next week's trading deadline.
Hamels certainly showed all who were watching -- especially the Cubs -- that there's nothing wrong with his stuff. He consistently threw his fastball 94, 95 mph and effectively changed speeds by mixing in his cutter (90 mph), curveball (79, 80) and changeup (86).
The left-hander struck out the side in the sixth and seventh inning and recorded a double-digit strikeout game for the 29th time in his career.
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