BOX SCORE
Cole Hamels doesnt like to complain about run support, but if there is one drawback to all of the runs the Phillies scored in the 14-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Sunday afternoon at the Bank, its that the innings sometimes last too long.
Pitchers, after all, are creatures of habit. Unless one is a hardy reliever type, starting pitchers like Hamels can often behave as if they are prized thoroughbreds. The more they deviate from the norm, the stranger things get.
However, based on Hamels past two starts, big innings and a glut of run support are the normfor a change. The Phillies have scored a season-high 14 runs in two starts in a row for Hamels, which based on past efforts is a complete 180-degree change.
The Phillies scored 15 runs in the six games started by Hamels in June, including just three runs during a stretch where the lefty allowed just four runs in 18 23 innings
Call it an embarrassment of riches for Hamels (and the other starting pitchers) for a change.
Its nice. Were taking a break on a high note, especially since it came against the Braves because theyre such a good team, Hamels said. At the same time, I know when we come back were going to be fired up and were going to keep plugging away and trying to win because the other team isnt going to take it lightly, either.
MLB
Actually, that notion may best describe the Phillies first half in which they went 57-34 to build a 3 game lead on the rest of the NL East. Interestingly, the Phillies have the biggest lead in any divisional race and the team chasing them, the Braves, is one win behind Boston for the second-most in the majors. Even with a mediocre team batting average and significant injuries to key players on the roster, the Phillies havent just won, but have won a lot.
With 71 games remaining in the season, the Phillies can go .500 the rest of the way and still end up with 92 wins. If they continue at their current rate, the Phillies will break the franchise record for most wins in a season with 102. For a team struggling to score runs like the Phillies have during the first 91 games of the seasonthey rank eighth in runs, ninth in homers, and 11th in batting averagethe fact the team has the best record in the majors is fascinating.
It also perfectly sums up how the team is built.
Our pitching jumps out at you and not just with our starters but with the consistency from our bullpen, manager Charlie Manuel said.
Then again, for as well as the Phillies have pitched this season, the hitting has been as good as it has had to be.
When we talk about our hitting, weve gotten enough to win 57 games, Manuel said. Anyway you want to cut it we had to score enough runs to win those games.
On Sunday, the Phillies scored 10 of their 14 runs off the Braves bullpen, which has posted the best stats in the majors so far this season. The Braves relievers had been especially good against the Phillies, shutting them down by giving up just four runs in their last 29 innings.
On Sunday the explosions came in the seventh and eighth innings, when Raul Ibanez capped off a six-RBI effort with a two-run single in the seventh and three-run homer in the eighth.
John Mayberry also belted his third double of the game to drive home two of his four RBIs, while Michael Martinez notched his first four-hit game and Dom Brown went 3 for 5.
Still, the 14-run outburtst to end the first half comes a day after the Phils lost to the Braves on one run that came on a homer from pitcher Cliff Lee. In fact, both of the Phillies 14-run games came a day after they team struggled to score just one run.
Regardless, 57 wins is pretty good.
Hey, I like our team. Im proud of our team. Matter of fact, its hard for me to get negative when were winning games because, to me, that sends a terrible message, Manuel said. You can improve and really feel free about things when you win and winning is what its all about. Winning is our top priority. Thats our top priority when we come to the ballpark, its to win the game that day. Thats what counts more than anything else.
The Phillies take the next four days off and get back to the business of winning ball games on Friday at CitiField. Vance Worley (4-1, 2.20) will start Fridays second-half opener in New York. Worley pitched magnificently for the Phillies in Miami on July 4, holding the Marlins to two hits and no runs over seven innings in a 1-0 victory. He was optioned to Triple A after the game in order to keep him pitching on a regular schedule, and threw a three-hitter without a run over six innings for Lehigh Valley on Saturday.
Hamels (11-4, 2.32) is scheduled to pitch on Saturday against the Mets with Sundays pitcher still to be determined. The Phillies want to wait and see how Roy Halladay (11-3, 2.45) is used in Tuesdays All-Star Game before slotting him in for next Sunday afternoons game.
In the meantime, Manuel expects some more wins and a lot more hitting sprinkled in when the season resumes next weekend.
In the second half I expect us to score more runs, especially if we can get our team back and healthy, he said.
E-mail John R. Finger at jfinger@comcastsportsnet.com. Follow him on Twitter @JRFingerCSN.
Related: Phillies notes: All-Stars, injury update, second halfNL East Wrap: Marlins win their fifth in a row