what are we thinking here!!??

On Sunday in Washington, Cole Hamels threw 6 shut out innings before the wheels came off for the Phillies in a 5-run 7th and the Nationals defeated Philadelphia, 6-1.  In the end, Hamels (1-8!) was credited with 6.1 innings, and charged with 5 runs, 3 of which were earned, and just 6 hits and 1 walk.  Justin de Fratus finished the 7th, allowing a hit and a walk, and an  inherited runner to score.  The Phillies managed just 5 hits on the day, 1 each for Hamels and Freddy Galvis. 

The key moment in the game came with 1 out in the 7th and runners at second and third for the Nats, and Tyler Moore at bat.  I challange the strategy of pitching around Moore, who was hitting .147.  Go after him, don't pitch around him!!   If I am Charlie Manuel, I let Hamels go after Moore and Jhonatan Solano, hitting .154.  Cole has earned the right to pitch his way out of his own trouble.

In Boston, Michael Bourn (.314) had a hit and a walk, stole his 8th base, and scored a run for the Indians, but the Red Sox prevailed, 6-5.........In Allentown, Steve Susdorf (.325) had 3 hits, an RBI, and scored 2 runs to help[ the IronPigs beat Norfolk, 5-4.  Troy Hanzawa, who was moved up from Reading this weekend, had a big 2-RBI double for Lehigh Valley.  The IronPigs will go to Rochester Monday and face Vance Worley  in his first start since being optioned by the Twins.

In Springfield, D'Arby Myers (.287) had 2 hits and 3 RBI to provide the winning margin for Midland in a 5-2 Rock Hounds win over the Cardinals...................In Harrisburg, the Senators roughed up Jesse Biddle for 6 runs, 5 earned, in just 4 innings in an 8-2 Harrisburg victory.  Biddle (3-4, 3.15) did get 2 hits in the game, and is hitting .556!!.........In Viera,  Brock Stassi (2 singles, 2 RBI), Kyrell Hudson and Jonathan Roof all had 2 hits for Threshers, and Gabriel Arias went 6 good innings, recording his 6th win of the year in a 7-5 Clearwater win.  Arias (6-2, 2.47) has pitched very well since moving into the rotation..............In Colorado Springs, Greg Golson had a single and scored a run during the SkySox' 3-run 8th inning rally to help the Sox win an 8-6 contest over Fresno...........In Manchester, Trevor May won his 4th game of the year, still only going 5 innings in an 11-4 win for the Rock Cats.  Trevor threw 107 pitches, allowing 3 runs, 2 earned, on 6 hits and 3 walks in the win over New Hampshire.