Cole Hamels looked much more like the ace he was expected to be before the season than he did in his first start. Against the Mets, Hamels didn’t even get out of the third inning. Today against the Braves, Cole went seven strong innings allowing just hits and striking out eight.
The only real trouble Cole got into all day was in the seventh when the Braves got runners on the corners with two out. However, Cole got Braves’ rookie Freddie Freeman to ground out weakly to second to end the threat. Ryan Madson and Jose Contreras each pitched an inning of relief to complete the shutout.
Red hot Shane Victorino was the offensive star for the Phils today with three hits, including a home run to right field off Derek Lowe in the sixth. Victorino also scored the teams’ first run of the day getting home on a double play hit by Jimmy Rollins. The Phillies centerfielder was 9-13 in the series.
Ryan Howard knocked in the only other Phillies run of the day.
The Phillies get a day off before traveling to Washington for their first series against Jayson Werth and the Washington Nationals. The Phils won’t get another day off until April 28th.