Marlins Set To Take On The Phillies Thursday
MIAMI (AP) -- Despite throwing the ball very well this season, Cole Hamels continues to grow frustrated with his lack of victories.
After three straight starts without one, the left-hander hopes for a better result when the Philadelphia Phillies try to split their four-game home set with the Miami Marlins on Thursday night.
Hamels (2-4, 2.76 ERA) allowed one earned run while going 1-0 with a 0.30 ERA in four starts before his 24 2-3 scoreless-inning stretch ended Saturday when he yielded three runs - two earned - while walking five in 7 1-3 innings of a 4-1 loss at St. Louis. Philadelphia (35-42) has scored two runs with him on the mound during a three-start stretch where he's gone 0-1 with a 0.81 ERA.
That's perhaps a reason Hamels declined to speak to reporters after his last outing.
"Anyone would be frustrated pitching the way he has pitched and having little to show for it," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg told MLB's official website. "It starts with getting some run support, play defense and when a guy is pitching like that, have something to show for it."
Sandberg continues to praise Hamels for his ability to put his team in position to win during the veteran's season that was delayed until April 23 because of biceps tendinitis.
"He knows how to rise to the occasion, he has that type of stuff," Sandberg said.
Hamels has allowed one earned run and struck out 19 over 15 innings while not factoring in the decision of his last two starts at Citizens Bank Park. His teammates have scored two runs with him on the mound in those contests.
Though Hamels is only 3-2 in his last eight against the Marlins, he's posted a 1.93 ERA during that stretch. He gave up three runs in seven innings before leaving without a decision in a 4-3 defeat at Miami on May 22.
After snapping a three-game slide with Tuesday's 7-4 victory over the Marlins (39-39), the Phillies fell 3-2 on Wednesday. Jarrod Saltalamacchia's two-run double capped a three-run fourth for Miami, which last won a series at Philadelphia in June 2012.
With two hits Wednesday, Miami's Casey McGehee is batting .409 (9 for 22) in the last five games at Philadelphia.
Teammate Giancarlo Stanton is 7 for 15 in his last four versus Philadelphia after going 0 for 11 in his previous three. Half of his 10 hits in 38 at-bats against Hamels have gone for extra bases, including two home runs. He's also struck out 16 times in those matchups.
Miami's Tom Koehler (5-6, 3.74) allowed nine runs in 11 1-3 innings while not factoring in the decision of his previous two starts before he gave up two and matched a career high with eight strikeouts over seven innings in a 4-0 loss to the New York Mets on Saturday.
In his lone start against the Phillies, the right-hander gave up five runs and two homers in five innings of a 7-2 loss.
Domonic Brown is 3 for 4 against Koehler and hit one of those home runs, but is 1 for 11 in his last four games versus Miami.
Jimmy Rollins, meanwhile, is batting .447 during his last 10 home contests against the Marlins.
(© Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
RELATED CONTENT:
