Cole Hamels didn't allow a hit to the Atlanta Braves through six innings on Monday afternoon, but he was pulled for a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning after five walks and 108 pitches. Jake Diekman came in for the Phillies and held the Braves hitless in the bottom of the seventh.
Phillies have combined no-hitter through 7 innings
Cole Hamels was unhittable, but the pitch count got him lifted for a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning.
Scott Cunningham
Fredi Gonzalez ordered an intentional walk to get to Hamels' spot in the seventh, hoping to force Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg's hand, and Sandberg sent Grady Sizemore to pinch-hit for his starter with two on and two out. The Phillies eventually scored three runs on a bases loaded Ben Revere triple. There is a lot of satisfying baseball in that paragraph.
The decision to pull Hamels with a no-hitter comes shortly after a report that he was disgruntled with Sandberg because of a quick hook. After getting pinch-hit for, Hamels had a smirk. It’s not clear if the smirk was because of disbelief at getting removed from the game, a coy admission that he knew he wasn’t going to throw a 150-pitch no-hitter or because Hamels is incapable of not smirking.
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