Phillies Cole Hamels, Relievers Combine To No-Hit Braves
-
Updated: September 1, 2014
Philadelphia Phillies ace Cole Hamels pitched six innings and three relievers finished the first combined no-hitter in franchise history. It was all the more unusual in that Hamels left the game with his bid intact after six innings. He was fine with the decision, too, having already thrown 108 pitches.
“Just understanding the situation, every time I went out there I was battling control issues,” Hamels said. “I wasn’t getting ahead of guys. Walking the leadoff hitter will put you in a lot of trouble, and it does. It builds up your pitch count.”
Of his 108 pitches, 66 went for strikes. Reliever Jake Diekman worked a hitless seventh, and Ken Giles and Jonathan Papelbon did the same in the eighth and ninth, respectively.
It was the first combined no-hitter since 2012, when Kevin Millwood and five Mariners relievers no-hit the Astros.
For Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg pulling Hamels wasn’t much a of decision, one the left understood
“I understand,” Hamels said. “I wasn’t so caught up in the no hits because I understood my pitch counts. I was able to get away with six innings. I didn’t have as much control as I would like.”
Related Posts
