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Hamels, Bullpen Silence Rays For 1-0 Lead

Cole Hamels pitched a magnificent seven innings of two-run ball, putting the Phillies ahead in the 2008 World Series with a 3-2 win over the Rays.

Hamels gave up a home run to Carl Crawford and a double to Akinori Iwamura, but struck out a handful while containing the Rays big hitters (2-3-4 went 0-for-12 with five strikeouts). He was very good, especially late, and got a lift from a couple double play balls.

The difference in the game was the mistakes. The Rays committed an error, played a tad too aggressive and looked a little off-center in their first World Series game. The Phils did too, but just not as much. To wit, Ryan Howard looked lost with an 0-for-4, 3 K game, and Jimmy Rollins left five on base with an 0-for-5. But the Phils limited mistakes and let pitching do the talking.

Behind Hamels, Ryan Madson was sparkling with a 1-2-3 eighth inning, and Brad Lidge quelled fears with a 1-2-3 save.

Chase Utley got the Phils off to a huge start with a two-run home run. The Phils got a third run via a Carlos Ruiz RBI groundout. They got their runs when they needed them, then held the Rays down with superb pitching. The result: a 1-0 lead in the World Series.

Associated Press photo

Tim Malcolm

Tim first found the Phillies as a little infant at Veteran’s Stadium, cheering on a Juan Samuel game-winning home run in his very first game. With the pinstripes in his blood, he witnessed Terry Mulholland’s 1990 no-hitter, “Steve Carlton Night” at the Vet, game three of the 1993 World Series, countless games during the charmed 2008 championship season and various road excursions. Since November 2007 Tim’s been writing about them daily at Phillies Nation, becoming one of the world’s most popular Phillies scribes. You can catch him on Twitter and Facebook, as well. When he’s not talking about the Phils he’s relaxing with a St. Bernardus ABT 12 or one of his many favored brews.