By Barbara Harrison
Cole Hamels was masterful yesterday against the Blue Jays, allowing just two hits in five scoreless innings during the Phillies’ 4-1 loss.
So now is the perfect time to pull the trigger on a trade that would infuse the Phils with lots of future talent!
A focus of trade speculation for a year or more, Hamels didn’t allow a hit until Kevin Pillar reached on an infield single leading off the fifth. Hamels picked off Pillar, Dalton Pompey tripled to left-center field and Hamels struck out Jose Reyes on three pitches.
Hamels, a four-time All-Star, struck out four and walked three.
With one exhibition start remaining before Philly’s opener against Boston on April 6, the lefty said his primary objective will be to lessen his pitch count early for a longer outing.
”I would prefer to go out six or seven innings,” Hamels said. ”I threw a lot of pitches in the first two innings today, so I think that’s kind of the focus is to try to get ahead of hitters early and then be able to get them out in three or four pitches or less just so I can go a lot longer and stretch out my innings.”
Steve Tolleson hit a grand slam off Ken Giles in the eighth.
Blue Jays starterAaron Sanchezgave up one run, two hits and one walk in 5 1-3 innings.
Edwin Encarnacion returned to Toronto’s lineup at designated hitter after missing 16 games with back inflammation. He walked twice and reached on a fielder’s choice.
