Cole Hamels decided to give the Washington Nationals' 19-year-old sensation Bryce Harper something to think about in the first inning of the Philadelphia Phillies' 9-3 win on Sunday night. With two outs and no men on, Hamels pegged the youngin', putting him on base with a hit-by-pitch. After the game, Hamels showed no remorse, admitting that he intentionally hit Harper because "that's the way baseball is."
You can read Hamels' full quote after the jump.
"I was trying to hit him. I'm not going to deny it. It's something I grew up watching. That's what happened. I'm just trying to continue the old baseball. Some people get away from it. I remember when I was a rookie, the strike zone was really, really small and you didn't say anything. That's the way baseball is. Sometimes the league is protecting certain players. It's that old-school prestigious way of baseball."
Hamels made a smart move by waiting for the last game of a three-game serious to send his message. We'll see if cooler heads prevail when the two teams meet up for another three games, this time in Philly, May 21-23. Of course, Harper ultimately got the last laugh by stealing home as Hamels nonchalantly tried to pick off Jayson Werth at first base.
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