Cole Hamels was on his game last night and the offense gave him enough support for the win as the Phils stopped the Nationals' seven game winning streak.
Hamels pitched into the eighth inning and was pulled probably as much to rest him in anticipation of his next start, against the Mets, as to hand the game over to J.C. Romero, Chad Durbin and Brad Lidge. Unlike the day before, when most of the Phillies looked as though they'd overslept, this game featured an attempted steal -- unsuccessful -- of home by Chase Utley and some timely hitting by Jimmy Rollins.
Utley's bold dash home and violent collision with catcher Jesus Flores was just the kind of clean, hard-nosed, heads-up play we've come to expect from him. He saw an opportunity to increase the Phils' lead and wake up his mates and he took it without regard for his body. That he was unsuccessful in scoring was the least of it -- he got an A for effort. Flores was injured on the play and had to leave the game but nothing was broken, just sprained, for which Utley was glad. Naturally, the fans in Washington booed him for the remainder of the game. Let's chalk that one up to being inexperienced at watching how the game should be played.
Speaking of how the game should be played on defense, if there is a better fielding third baseman right now than Ryan Zimmerman I'd like to meet him. Zimmerman has the reflexes of a Brooks Robinson but with a better arm. In the top of the eighth he was playing in anticipating a bunt from Cole Hamels when the Phils' lefthander pulled the bat back and hit a sharp ground ball toward third. Zimmerman fielded it as the ball was passing him and threw Hamels out from his knees. His fielding is worth the price of admission.
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