Yesterday was the happiest I've ever been to be wrong in quite some time. I predicted a Phillies loss yesterday because I figured Gallardo would give the Phillies' offense fits yesterday. He pitched ok for a few innings, but the Phils got to him in the third, before he left after 4 innings.
Hamels was an absolute beast-going 8 innings, giving up just two hits, zero runs, and striking out nine. It was the stuff that legends are made of. He's their franchise pitcher and his heart has been questioned in big starts and boy did he come up big.
I got into a discussion with a few people today about Charlie Manuel's decision to yank Hamels after 8 innings. I agree with the move. If you can't trust your closer who's been perfect all season to get the job done with a 3-0 lead, then when can you trust him? Not to mention, they don't want to burn Hamels out like the Cubs did with Prior back in 2003. I always point to that when people criticize Manuel's decision to not let Hamels "go all the way."
Chase Utley came up with the biggest hit of his career in the third inning with the two-run double that scored Ruiz and Hamels.
And, that's all they needed. It was certainly not a memorable performance by the O, but they needed dominant pitching and a clutch hit to get it done, which they did.
Tonight is huge because the Brewers are sending the dominant C.C. Sabathia (11-2 with a 1.65 ERA) against Brett Myers. If Myers can pitch like he did in the previous Milwaukee series then this series is over. If not, then it's still a series.
Game two starts tonight at 6:00.
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