And The Phillies’ Stellar Start Continues…

GAME RECAP: Mets Beat Phillies 7-2

A literal banner day for the Mets -- they raised their 2015 National League pennant before the game -- turned into a subdued 7-2 win over the Phillies on Friday when starting pitcher Jacob deGrom left due to a right lat injury. The afternoon was no more enjoyable for the Phillies, who fell to 0-4 for the first time in a decade. Before departing as a medical precaution, deGrom contributed six effective innings despite reduced velocity. The Mets, in turn, gave him a lead on sixth-inning RBI hits from Neil Walker and Michael Conforto against Phillies starter Jerad Eickhoff. Walker singled home another run an inning later, and Conforto singled home two more. "It's a good start," Mets third baseman David Wright said. "Hopefully there's a lot more to come." The Mets' seventh-inning rally constituted a third bullpen meltdown in four games for the Phillies, whose 12.66 relief ERA ranks last in baseball. "We just need to get something going," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. "I need to keep everybody positive and not get down on themselves. Everybody is trying so hard."

PHILS PHACTS:

• Eickhoff pitched relatively well, but the Phillies' bullpen cannot stop the bleeding. After Dalier Hinojosa and Daniel Stumpf worked out of a jam in the sixth, left-hander James Russell allowed four runs in the seventh to put the game out of reach. The Phillies' bullpen has allowed 15 earned runs in 10 2/3 innings this season. "We're going to continue to try to find out," said Mackanin, asked if he has the personnel in the bullpen to pitch effectively.
• There are many reasons the Phillies are 0-4, but one of them is the offense. They have scored more than two runs just once in four games. They are hitting .120 (3-for-25) with runners in scoring position, and they did themselves no favors Friday when Cesar Hernandez forgot the infield fly rule, turning a potential rally into an inning-ending double play in the eighth. "That was unacceptable," Mackanin said. "You can't excuse that. He should know better. He's an infielder."
• "You shouldn't have to. In high school you should know that." -- Mackanin, on if the infield fly rule is taught during Spring Training.
• Phillies outfielders are hitting a combined .116 (5-for-43) with one double, one home run and two RBIs, which is why Mackanin told Darin Ruf to begin taking fly balls in left field during batting practice. The Phillies pulled the plug on Ruf as an outfielder in Spring Training. "Although it's not according to plan, we need some bats with some power," Mackanin said. "I don't think that was even a thought," Ruf said of working out in left. "Now it is."

NEXT GAME:

Phillies fans get their first look at hard-throwing right-hander Vincent Velasquez -- the key piece of the Ken Giles trade with Houston -- in Saturday night's game against the Mets at Citi Field. Velasquez threw the ball well in the spring, earning the No. 5 job in the rotation over left-hander Adam Morgan.

PHILS PHACTS:

Wrong Kind Of Hit – Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco had his left elbow wrapped up Friday morning at Citi Field. But at least he had a bat in his hands and was headed to the batting cage to hit. "I'm sore," Franco said. "But I'll be fine." Franco got hit with a 92-mph fastball just below the elbow in the ninth inning Thursday afternoon against the Reds at Great American Ball Park. He was not in the Phillies' lineup for Friday's game against the Mets, but Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said Franco was available to pinch-hit and is expected to be in the lineup Saturday. "It's not a big deal," Mackanin said. That should be a relief for the Phillies, who badly need Franco's bat in the lineup. Franco hit .300 (3-for-10) with one double, one home run, two RBIs, two walks and two strikeouts in three games against the Reds this week. Andres Blanco started at third base Friday. He hit fifth.

A Solid Start – All things considered, the Phillies' rotation has been the team's lone bright spot this season. Right-hander Jerad Eickhoff allowed three runs (two earned) in five-plus innings Friday afternoon in a 7-2 loss to the Mets at Citi Field. "He doesn't look as sharp as I've seen him," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. "But he still only gave up two earned runs, which is fine." Following a spring that began with a broken right thumb, Eickhoff pitched better than perhaps expected. The Phillies will take it. Their starters have a 3.74 ERA in four games, but because of a poor bullpen and a struggling offense, the team is 0-4 for the first time since 2006. The Phillies need Vince Velasquez to pitch well Saturday night to avoid their first 0-5 start since 1934. Eickhoff struggled early, throwing 50 pitches in his first two innings. He hit Michael Conforto with a pitch to start the second and loaded the bases with no outs. Freddy Galvis dropped an easy catch at second on a potential double-play ball, putting runners at first and second. Eickhoff then walked Travis d'Arnaud to load the bases. But Eickhoff battled. He got Jacob deGrom to ground into a fielder's choice as Conforto scored to make it 1-0. But Curtis Granderson popped out and David Wright grounded out to end the inning. Eickhoff threw just 28 pitches over his next three innings, retiring 12 of 13 batters in one stretch. But a double from Lucas Duda, a single from Neil Walker and a Conforto double gave the Mets a 3-1 lead and ended Eickhoff's night. Eickhoff left the game encouraged that he is close to where he was last season, when he had a 2.65 ERA in eight starts as a rookie. "Yeah, I think so," Eickhoff said. "I threw a bullpen [session earlier this week] in Cincinnati. There were some pitches there where it was like, 'OK, that's it, that's where I need to be.' I think I threw some out there today. It's just I couldn't find it more than I'd like to, so it was kind of frustrating. But I'm happy to get through it and be healthy on the backside." The bullpen is not healthy. It allowed four runs in three innings. It has a 12.66 ERA (15 earned runs in 10 2/3 innings). "Our starters have done a really good job up to this point," Mackanin said. "That's what we were trying to go for up to this point. It's been working very well. We're not the best-hitting team in the league, but we're certainly better than what we're showing. We just need to get something going. I need to keep everybody positive and not get down on themselves. Everybody is trying so hard."

That Was Fundamentally Wrong – Manager Pete Mackanin emphasized the fundamentals this spring because he knew the Phillies have little margin for error. But he never expected to need a refresher course on the infield fly rule four games into the season. Cesar Hernandez forgot about the rule Friday, ending a potential rally in the eighth inning of a 7-2 loss to the Mets at Citi Field. The Phillies are 0-4 for the first time since 2006. They need to win Saturday to avoid their first 0-5 start since 1934. "That was unacceptable," Mackanin said. "You can't excuse that. He should know better. He's an infielder." The Phillies had Hernandez on first and Freddy Galvis on second with one out when Odubel Herrera hit a popup in the infield, just to the left of the pitcher's mound. Mets third baseman David Wright moved underneath the ball, but the wind blew it behind him. No matter, the infield fly rule had been called. But Hernandez ran to second the moment the ball hit the ground. Wright threw to Mets first baseman Lucas Duda, who threw to shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, who tagged Hernandez for the inning-ending double play. "I did not see the umpire call the infield fly," Hernandez said through the Phillies' translator. "I was trying to listen to my first-base coach, but couldn't hear a thing because it was so loud. When the ball hit the ground, I reacted to it. However, there are no excuses. I am an infielder. I know the rules. I take full responsibility for it. It won't happen again." "Freddy didn't move," Mackanin said. "He knew [not to run]." Asked if the Phillies reteach the infield fly rule in Spring Training, Mackanin said, "You shouldn't have to. In high school you should know that." Of course, this is not to say the Phillies would have overcome a five-run deficit, but they need every bit of help they can get. They have scored more than two runs just once in four games this season. They are hitting .120 (3-for-25) with runners in scoring position. The Phillies need offense so badly they just told Darin Ruf to begin to take fly balls in left field during batting practice. The Phillies essentially pulled the plug on Ruf as an outfielder in Spring Training because they said they valued defense over offense in the outfield. But Phillies outfielders are a hitting combined .116 (5-for-43) with one double, one home run and two RBIs. "Although it's not according to plan, we need some bats with some power," Mackanin said. "I don't think that was even a thought," Ruf said. "Now it is."

Minor Talents – Without a doubt, low Class A Greenville had the most talented Minor League club at the end of 2015. Scouts who saw the Red Sox's South Atlantic League affiliate in the second half laughed about how loaded the Drive's roster was. After signing for $31.5 million (and costing Boston a matching penalty for exceeding its international bonus pool) in March, second baseman Yoan Moncada lived up to his "Robinson Cano with more speed" comparisons and hit .310/.415/.500 with 45 steals in his final 56 games. Third baseman Rafael Devers ranked second in the SAL in doubles (38) and total bases (208) as an 18-year-old. Shortstop Javier Guerra flashed Gold Glove potential and slammed 15 homers. While third baseman Michael Chavis and right-hander Michael Kopech had their ups and downs -- Chavis had swing-and-miss issues, Kopech got suspended for 50 games after testing positive for a banned stimulant -- they both showed the upside that made them first-round picks in 2014. Outfielder Andrew Benintendi, the No. 7 overall choice in 2015, arrived in Greenville in August and batted .351/.430/.581 in 19 games. Precocious righty Anderson Espinoza, who draws Pedro Martinez parallels, made a cameo in the final series at age 17. Even with the Red Sox breaking up the gang to start the 2016 season, they've still assembled the most impressive Minor League roster again, this time at high Class A Salem. No club has three players ranked higher on MLBPipeline.com's Top 100 Prospects than Moncada (No. 6), Devers (No. 16) and Benintendi (No. 24). Guerra (No. 57) went to the Padres in the Craig Kimbrel trade in November, but Espinoza (No. 38), Kopech (currently sidelined after breaking his pitching hand in an altercation with a teammate during Spring Training) and Chavis could move up to the Carolina League later in the year. Salem also features several interesting sleepers in right-hander Travis Lakins, middle infielder Mauricio Dubon and first baseman Nick Longhi. After Salem, these are the best prospect rosters in the Minors: 8. Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Phillies): All three of the IronPigs' Top 100 Prospects were acquired via trade last year by the rebuilding Phillies. Right-hander Jake Thompson (No. 54) and outfielder Nick Williams (No. 64) came from the Rangers in July's Cole Hamels deal, while righty Mark Appel (No. 69) -- the No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 Draft -- was part of the package the Astros gave up for Ken Giles in December. Catcher Andrew Knapp was one of the Minors' hottest hitters after the All-Star break last year, batting .370/.437/.698 with 11 homers in 42 Double-A games. 9. Double-A Reading Fightin Phils (Phillies): Philadelphia leads all organizations with seven Top 100 Prospects, so it's not surprising that the Phils are the only one with multiple affiliates on this list. J.P. Crawford (No. 4) is an elite shortstop prospect, catcher Jorge Alfaro (No. 95) is another piece from the Hamels trade and outfielder Roman Quinn (No. 98) is one of the fastest players in the Minors. Potential mid-rotation right-hander Ricardo Pinto has two plus pitches in his fastball and changeup.

Home Opener Festivities Scheduled – The Mets celebrated their National League championship Friday afternoon with a lengthy pregame ceremony at Citi Field. The Phillies will have their own festivities Monday at their home opener at Citizens Bank Park. There are a limited number of tickets available at phillies.com/tickets or at the first-base ticket windows at the ballpark. Here are some the highlights of the day's timeline: Noon ET -- Block party begins on Citizens Bank Way. 12:35 p.m. -- Gates open. Fans receive a commemorative cap. 12:43 p.m. -- Phillies take batting practice. 2:13 p.m. -- The Phillies begin their walk into the ballpark from 10th Street, just outside center field. 2:22 p.m. -- The Phillies enter the park. 2:50 p.m. -- Kane Kalas, son of Harry Kalas, sings the national anthem. 2:53 p.m. -- The United States Navy Parachute Team, the Leap Frogs, parachute onto the field delivering the first balls. 3 p.m. -- Philadelphia police officer Jesse Hartnett, 33, throws out a first pitch. Hartnett was shot three times while on duty. President Obama called him a hero in his last State of the Union Address. 3:05 p.m. -- First pitch.

All About Debuts - It's hard to believe but the first victory at Ebbets Field in 1913 was not by the Brookyln Dodgers, that honor belongs to the Phillies. Ted Savage and Frank Torre (Joe's Brothers) made their Phillies debuts on this day in 1962 in a decade that held a lot of promise but produced few results. However, the team's record at the end of the year doesn't mean their weren't great performances that of Steve "bedrock" Bedrosian who would go on to win the Cy Young Award two years after debuting with the Phillies in 1986. The next decade saw Tyler Green playing his part in an amazing season in 1993.  

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies are currently 0-4 this season putting them on pace to meet most preseason predictions. The Phillies finished the spring exceeding most expectations compiling a record of 15-11-3 (18-11-3 if you include the exhibition games against Reading and the University of Tampa). All time, the Phillies are 18-18-0 on this day. I expect the Phillies to finish in the bottom half of the division but not last in the NL East by finishing the season with a 77-85 record. Let the rebuild begin!

Solid Start Not Good Enough For First Win

GAME RECAP: Padres Beat Phillies 9-4

The Padres avoided a season sweep to the Phillies on Sunday, thanks to a little star power. Matt Kemp and Justin Upton homered while James Shields allowed just one run in seven innings in a 9-4 victory at Citizens Bank Park. It was the Padres' only victory in six games this season against the Phillies. "I'm not worried about who we play, I'm worried about how we play," Padres interim manager Pat Murphy said. "We didn't play well in Washington but we squeaked out with a win. We didn't play well here, but we played better today. What I learned is that these guys still have a little fight in them. They are excited about playing [the Dodgers in the next series]. I know they are." Phillies right-hander Alec Asher made his big league debut. Asher, whom the Phillies acquired from Texas in the Cole Hamels trade, allowed a two-run homer to Kemp in the first inning to make it 2-0 and a solo homer to Upton in the third to make it 3-0. Asher then allowed a two-out single to Shields in the sixth, which scored the Padres' fourth run. "I liked him," Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin said about Asher. "I liked his stuff. I liked his approach. He got behind too often, he left the ball up in the zone a little too often. It's understandable when a guy is in his first Major League appearance in front of his home [fans]."

OTHER NOTES FROM THE DAY:

• Phillies second baseman Cesar Hernandez entered the game hitting .133 (8-for-60) in his last 17 games, but he went 2-for-4 with one triple and one RBI. Mackanin hopes it is a sign. Mackanin thought about keeping on Hernandez on the bench to clear his head, but he decided against it. "I just decided to make him battle out of it," Mackanin said. "That's what we need to see. If he's going to be the everyday second baseman, we want him to play 160 games."
• The Phillies could not get anything going offensively against Shields, except for Cameron Rupp's solo home run to right field in the second. It was Rupp's fourth home run in his last six games, and his seventh homer in August. He is the first Phillies' catcher to hit seven or more homers in a month since Mike Lieberthal hit eight in Aug. 2002. He is the first Phillies rookie catcher to have seven or more homers in a month since Butch Henline had seven in Sept. 1922. "Comfortable, seeing the ball, timing is there," Rupp said. "I'm getting a lot of playing time, and I think that just makes a huge difference, when you're getting everyday at-bats and you're seeing guys [for a second time]. I think that's been huge."
• Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera went 4-for-4. It was the first four-hit game of his career. He has hit safely in 26 of his last 31 games. He is hitting .344 (42-for-122) in that stretch.
• The Phillies claimed left-handed reliever Ken Roberts off waivers from the Rockies. He could join the Phillies on Tuesday when rosters expand. The Phillies' only left-hander in the bullpen right now is Adam Loewen.
• The Mets scored 40 runs during their four-game sweep of the Phillies last week. Tensions rose Tuesday when the Phillies bench didn't take kindly to Hansel Robles' quick pitch to Darin Ruf. New York is 12-1 this season against Philadelphia.
• New York expects to have newly acquired reliever Addison Reed activated for Monday's game. The Mets sent two minor league pitchers to Arizona to acquire Reed over the weekend. Reed owns a 4.20 ERA in 40 2/3 innings this season, and will receive high leverage chances in middle relief.

NEXT GAME:

When Jerad Eickhoff made his Major League debut earlier in the month, everything was new. Suddenly, somehow, it's all already much of the same. Eickhoff and Bartolo Colon will square off for the second time in six days on Monday when the Mets and Phillies open a three-game series at Citi Field. Two of Eickhoff's three career starts have now come against Colon, who is making the 462nd start of his 18-year career. The rookie allowed four runs (three earned) over six innings to New York on Wednesday, after shutting out the Marlins over six in his MLB debut. Colon, meanwhile, is fresh off an emergency bullpen appearance on Saturday, his first in more than four years. The veteran is 2-1 with a 3.51 ERA in August.

PHILS PHACTS:

Enjoying The Moment – At the very least, Phillies rookie Alec Asher had a memorable afternoon at Citizens Bank Park. Asher is one of five prospects the Phillies acquired from Texas in the Cole Hamels trade in July. He became the second of those prospects to make his big league debut, when he started Sunday's 9-4 loss to the Padres. Asher allowed eight hits, four runs, one walk, two home runs and struck out three in 5 2/3 innings. "I liked him," Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin said. "I liked his stuff. I liked his approach. He got behind too often, he left the ball up in the zone a little too often. It's understandable when a guy is in his first Major League appearance in front of his home [fans]." Asher acknowledged he had some nerves early in the game, but he became more comfortable the more he pitched and he left feeling like he can succeed at this level. "I thought I was all right," he said. "I made a couple of bad pitches that I paid for. But I mean, I wouldn't take back the experience. It was great. You obviously want to win. But you take the experience and learn from it." Padres right fielder Matt Kemp hit a 1-0 fastball to left field for a two-run home run in the first inning to hand the Padres a 2-0 lead. Padres left fielder Justin Upton then ripped a 2-0 fastball to left field for a solo homer to make it 3-1. Asher allowed a two-out single to James Shields in the sixth to make it 4-1. Mackanin said he liked how Asher kept his composure after the homer to Kemp in the first. Asher kept calm. He kept pitching. And he almost escaped with a quality start, if not for the hit to Shields. "You don't really expect a guy making his first appearance at the Major League level to be that poised and have that kind of a mound presence," Mackanin said. "We're fortunate that we've got [Aaron] Nola who did, [Jerad] Eickhoff who did it and actually so did Asher today. He really came back after struggling in the first inning." Asher joked Saturday that he might be more nervous to hit than pitch. He had not hit since he signed with the Rangers following the 2012 Draft, when he was a fourth-round selection. Deep down, maybe Asher felt a little more comfortable when he realized his father Bob Asher introduced his first at-bat over the PA system. Bob is the PA announcer for the Class A Advanced Lakeland Flying Tigers. It was a nice touch on a milestone day. "I didn't realize it until after it happened," Asher said. "I got in the box, looked up and saw his face on the big screen. But it made sense afterward."

Adding Bullpen Depth – The Phillies acquired some bullpen depth Sunday when they claimed left-hander Ken Roberts off waivers from the Rockies. Roberts has been optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, but he could join the Phillies on Tuesday when rosters expand. The Phillies are thin on left-handed relievers. They traded Jake Diekman to Texas in July. They designated Cesar Jimenez for assignment recently, and the Brewers claimed him off waivers. Then last week Elvis Araujo strained his left groin and landed on the disabled list. Roberts, 27, pitched the last six seasons (2010-15) primarily in the Rockies' Minor League system, going 22-10 with a 2.61 ERA in 216 appearances (two starts). He went 1-3 record with a 5.12 ERA this season for Triple-A Albuquerque, but appeared in only 23 games after spending time on the DL for left elbow inflammation. He posted a 5.79 ERA in nine appearances this year with the Rockies. The Rockies designated him for assignment Friday.

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies have returned to their lackluster ways and regained their grip on last place in the NL East with a record of 52-79. Given the departures, aging stars, injuries, and bipolar performances this season, this could still end up being the worst team in franchise history… at least that is something to hope for this year! All time, the Phillies are 48-61-0 on this day.

Phillies Can’t Keep Lead In Loss To Mets

GAME RECAP: Mets Edge Phillies 6-5

If the Phillie Phanatic crushing a Mets helmet to smithereens during a between-innings gag was not evidence enough, then Larry Bowa's ejection sealed it. Make no mistake: the Mets may be in first place and the Phillies in last, but there's still a rivalry coursing down Interstate 95. That was apparent throughout the Mets' fifth straight win on Monday, a 6-5 victory at Citizens Bank Park that improved them to 10-1 against the Phillies this season. Noah Syndergaard earned his first road victory of the year, Travis d'Arnaud tied things on a bases-loaded walk and Michael Cuddyer gave the Mets the lead for good with a pinch-hit, two-run single off Jeanmar Gomez in the sixth. Warnings were issued an inning later, when Hansel Robles attempted a quick pitch before Darin Ruf was ready at the plate. The Mets had raised eyebrows in Monday's series opener for bat flips after more than one of their franchise-record eight home runs. "Tensions are high and it escalated from there," Mets second baseman Daniel Murphy said Tuesday. "We swung the bats well yesterday. We got a good win today. I know what we're concerned about in this clubhouse, and that's playing good baseball." The Phillies struck out nine times in five innings against Syndergaard, but took an early lead on two-run homers from Freddy Galvis and Ryan Howard. Gomez gave up one run of his own and two that he inherited from starter Jerome Williams, who also allowed a two-run homer to Yoenis Cespedes and an RBI double to Syndergaard.

OTHER NOTES FROM THE DAY:

• Gomez had been one of the team's better relievers this season, posting a 2.08 ERA in 56 1/3 innings over his first 48 appearances. But Gomez has struggled lately. He replaced Williams with two on and one out in the sixth. He walked the bases loaded before he walked in a run to cut the Phillies' lead to one. He then allowed a two-out single to Cuddyer to score two runs to give the Mets a 6-4 lead. Gomez has allowed nine hits and seven runs in four innings in his last four appearances. "Lately his sinker, he hasn't been able to keep his sinker down," Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin said. "He's elevating the sinker. He had both of those guys with two strikes on them and he just couldn't put them away. The base hit to Cuddyer was a sinker but he elevated it. It was too on it."
• Galvis and Howard each hit two-run home runs in the third inning to give the Phillies a 4-3 lead. But for the second consecutive night against the Mets, the Phillies' could not hold the lead. "It's nice to see that we fought them," Mackanin said. "Knocked out their two starters last night and tonight. It's good to see that. We scored five runs. Had a chance to win. Just couldn't capitalize."
• Bowa was ejected in the seventh inning after Robles attempted to pitch before Ruf was ready. Bowa began yelling from the dugout, prompting umpire Dan Bellino to eject him and warn Robles and both benches. The Mets also began spilling out of their dugout, though order was quickly restored and Robles struck out Ruf to end the inning. "I was surprised because I was trying to do my job, trying to do exactly what I've been doing before with the quick pitch," Robles said through an interpreter. "The batter got into the box and the umpire pointed to me, so I was ready to execute my pitches."
• Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera leads Major League rookies with 25 doubles. He could become the first Phillie to lead big league rookies in doubles since Juan Samuel had 36 in 1984.
• The Phillies need to win five of their final eight games against the Mets to avoid their worst season series ever against New York. They dropped to 1-10 against New York after Tuesday's loss.

NEXT GAME:

Mets right-hander Bartolo Colon hopes to get on track for the stretch run beginning Wednesday night against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. He is 10-11 with a 4.90 ERA this season, but has posted a 6.08 ERA in his last seven starts. He has allowed 53 hits and 27 runs in 40 innings. Colon is 2-0 with a 5.25 ERA in two starts this season against the Phillies. The Phillies counter with rookie right-hander Jerad Eickhoff, whom they acquired last month from Texas in the Cole Hamels trade. Eickhoff pitched six scoreless innings in his big league debut last week against the Marlins at Marlins Park.

PHILS PHACTS:

Where Have You Been Larry? – Give the man a chance to hit. Tempers flared and benches emptied in the seventh inning Tuesday night in the Mets' 6-5 victory over the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies felt Mets right-hander Hansel Robles quick-pitched a pair of their hitters on consecutive nights before they had a chance to get set in the batter's box. The second occurrence got Jeff Francoeur out of the dugout, bench coach Larry Bowa ejected and Daniel Murphy wondering why Bowa wanted him drilled in the ribs with a pitch. "Let the guy step in the box," Francoeur said. "That's all I ask. We saw [Jeurys] Familia quick pitch, but the guy was ready. LaTroy [Hawkins] did it to me earlier this year in Toronto. Ruffy [Darin Ruf] had one foot in the box [in the seventh]. That's chicken … that's what it is. I never met the guy and I have no problem with him. Let the guy get in the box. And if they can't understand why we are upset with that … it had nothing to do with anything else." Ruf had just raised his head in the batter's box when Robles delivered his first pitch to him to the plate. Home-plate umpire Dan Bellino immediately called off the pitch, but the Phillies felt Robles did the same thing Monday night to Cameron Rupp, which prompted them to start yelling. Francoeur quickly stepped out onto the field to express his displeasure. "Jeff, sit down! Jeff, sit down!" Bellino shouted to Francoeur. Bowa got ejected almost immediately after that. Bowa, who had more than a few memorable ejections as Phillies manager from 2001-04, then got in Bellino's face. "I stopped it," Bellino told Bowa about the pitch. "Larry just got a little bit aggravated because it happened two days in a row," Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin said. "Same pitcher. It's a legal play and there's nothing wrong with it. But the umpire's got to make sure that the batter is ready in the box because you can get hurt. Rupp just got his hand on the bat [Monday] and the pitch was on its way. So you've just got to be careful with it. Larry reacted." Mets manager Terry Collins disagreed with Bowa, whom Collins called one of his best friends. They worked together in Anaheim, when Collins managed the Angels. "I saw a quick pitch and Larry went like Larry is," Collins said. "He's pretty intense. I just said until they make the pitch illegal, you can do it. I see it all the time." It was a coincidence that Francoeur mentioned Hawkins, but when Hawkins pitched for the Mets in 2013, he encouraged Mets relievers to employ the quick pitch. Many obviously still keep up with the practice. Mets catcher Travis d'Arnaud said he told Robles to wait to throw because he noticed Ruf looking down. Robles said through an interpreter that he saw Belllino point to him to throw. Murphy later saw Bowa yelling at him from the dugout. Bowa apparently did not like the way Murphy flipped his bat after he hit a home run Monday night. He told Murphy he should get a pitch to the ribs. It is at that point both teams got warnings. "I can't sit here and try to pretend to know what someone else was thinking," Murphy said. "If that's the reason, then he must have taken exception to it. But I can't put what somebody else is thinking at a certain moment." "I don't know what that was about," Mackanin said about Bowa. "I think he just got mad at everybody." Bowa left the clubhouse after the game and was unavailable to comment. "I had no problem with the way those guys played," Francoeur said. "They played hard. They are a great baseball team. I've got a lot of buddies on that team. My whole thing is to give the guy time because that's bull …"

Rotation Decisions – The Phillies want to see more Aaron Nola, Adam Morgan and Jerad Eickhoff in their rotation before the end of the season. They might want to see Triple-A right-hander Alec Asher, too. So where does that leave veteran right-hander Jerome Williams, who allowed five runs in 5 1/3 innings in Tuesday night's 6-5 loss to the Mets at Citizens Bank Park? That remains to be seen. He could be bumped if the Phillies decide they want to see Asher or another prospect in September. Or he could remain, if the Phillies decide to use a six-man rotation. "You're always auditioning," Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin said before the game. "It's a big start for everybody the rest of the year because we're looking forward to next year and trying to decide who's going to stay and who's going to go. So every start from here on out is important." "I have no control over that," Williams said afterward. "All I want to try to do is go out there and pitch, leave it all out there on the field." The Phillies acquired Asher from Texas in the Cole Hamels trade. He is 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA in four starts with the IronPigs. "There's a lot of things that we've discussed," Mackanin said. "Who do we want to call up, all those kinds of questions are mulling around right now. I'm sure some things will probably change. I don't know what, but we're going to have to wait until we get closer to that time and make the decision and then I'll have a better answer for you." Williams dropped to 4-10 with a 6.13 ERA. "I think he's got to continue to earn the spot," Mackanin said about Williams. "I haven't talked to Ruben [Amaro Jr.] about it. I don't know what his thinking is. I know one thing, we have to limit innings for Nola and I guess Eickhoff and Morgan because of his shoulder issues that he's had over the last few years. That being the case, that's when the possible six-man rotation came up, just throwing out ideas. If that's the case, maybe things won't change. There might be an addition."

Frenchy To Stay With Phillies – Every time Jeff Francoeur hits a home run, somebody wonders why a contender would not want him for the stretch run. But Francoeur will not be traded before the Aug. 31 waiver Trade Deadline. A source confirmed an ESPN.com report that Francoeur did not clear revocable waivers. A team claimed him, but the Phillies could not strike a deal with that team. That team could be the Pirates, who expressed interest in Francoeur before the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline. Francoeur said before Tuesday's 6-5 loss to the Mets that he is more than happy to finish the season with the Phillies. "I've enjoyed my time here," he said. "I think they know that." Francoeur is hitting .269 (68-for-253) with 13 doubles, one triple, 12 home runs, 38 RBIs and a .766 OPS. His OPS ranks second on the team only to Maikel Franco (.830), among Phillies with a 150 or more at-bats. Francoeur will be a free agent after the season. The Phillies seem interested in bringing him back, but nobody knows what will happen. First, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr.'s contract expires after the season and incoming president Andy MacPhail has not announced any decision about the GM spot. The Phillies also need to decide who their manager is going to be, if it is not going to be interim manager Pete Mackanin. Of course, then the Phillies have to figure out how they want to configure their 2016 outfield. "I would come back for the right situation," Francoeur said. "Once they figure all that out, yeah, I'd definitely be interested." Could he handle another season on a rebuilding team? "I could. I really could," Francoeur said. "I like where we're going right now. Hell, we have the [fourth]-best record in the National League in the second half. At the same time, I'm not saying I've got to play every day, but I would want an opportunity to play if I'm playing well. I'm not saying every day, though. But for the right opportunity, yeah, I'd definitely come back."

First Hand Look – Somehow, someway, the Phillies have the third-best record in the National League and the fourth-best record in baseball since the All-Star break. They have mostly young players to thank for that. Phillies fans will get a look at two of them for the first time this week at Citizens Bank Park, where the Phillies host the Mets in a four-game series. Rookie right-hander Jerad Eickhoff, whom they acquired from Texas in the Cole Hamels trade, starts Wednesday night against the first-place Mets. Rookie infielder/outfielder Darnell Sweeney, whom they acquired from the Dodgers in the Chase Utley deal, made his debut at Citizens Bank Park in Monday's 16-7 loss to the Mets when he flew out in the 7th inning as a pinch-hitter. Eickhoff allowed five hits, one walk and struck out five in six scoreless innings in his big league debut Friday against the Marlins in Miami. Sweeney crushed a homer for his first big league hit Saturday against the Marlins. He started Sunday and walked three times in four plate appearances. "I like him," Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin said about Sweeney. "He looked like a sure-handed outfielder. He moves well. He went to the ball well. I was just talking to [bench coach] Larry Bowa and [hitting coach Steve] Henderson about the first time [Sweeney] took batting practice. The ball wasn't coming off his bat in batting practice very well. He wasn't really popping the ball. Then he hits that home run to left-center [at Marlins Park.]" The ball traveled a projected 445 feet, according to Statcast™. "He crushed it. That got rid of any doubts we might have had about his pop," Mackanin said with a smile. The Phillies' farm system had been ranked near the bottom in baseball for years, but the prospects Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. and his staff acquired in the past month, along with strong Drafts the past two or three years, have jumped them to No. 7 in baseball, according to MLBPipeline.com. Eickhoff and Sweeney are two of the reasons why.

Minor Update – Player - OF Aaron Brown, Clearwater…Brown, a 23-year old in his second professional season, earned Player of the Week Honors after batting .455 (10-22) with a home run, six runs scored, two doubles, two RBI and a walk in six games. He began the week with four straight multi-hit games, including his fourth three-hit game of the season on August 18. He has scored or driven in at least one run in six of his last seven contests. Brown was selected by the Phillies in the third round of the 2014 draft out of Pepperdine University and was signed by Shane Bowers. Pitcher - RHP Ricardo Pinto, Clearwater…The 21-year-old Pinto made one start for the Threshers, tossing 6.0 scoreless innings with six strikeouts and just three hits allowed as he was named Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the Week. He has allowed just one run in his last 19.2 innings (0.92 ERA), and over that span has surrendered just 11 hits and three walks (0.71 WHIP) while striking out 16 batters. This is the right-hander's second Pitcher of the Week award this season, with the first coming for the week of June 22-28. Pinto was signed by the Phillies and Jesus Mendez as an amateur free agent in December of 2011. Lehigh Valley IronPigs - International League North Division…57-71, 5^th place… The IronPigs ended the week on a strong note with back-to-back wins over Pawtucket as they went 3-2 in a week shortened by an off-day and a postponement. Lehigh Valley's pitching led the way as they allowed two runs or fewer in four of their five games, including a 2-0 shutout of the Red Sox on August 22. Top hitting performers - OF Brian Bogusevic recorded three multi-hit games, batting .333 for the week with a home run, three RBI and three runs scored…INF Chase d'Arnaud hit his fifth home run of the season, scored three runs and drove in two…OF Kelly Dugan hit his second home run of the year as a member of the IronPigs. Top pitching performers - RHP Sean O'Sullivan pitched a career-high 8.1 innings and allowed just one unearned run on three hits while striking out nine batters in his start against the RailRiders…RHP Alec Asher made one start, holding Pawtucket scoreless over 7.0 innings while surrendering only five hits…RHP Dustin McGowan converted all three of his save opportunities, combining to throw 2.2 scoreless innings. Reading Fightin Phils - Eastern League Eastern Division …72-54, 1^st place…The start and finish to the week were complete opposites for Reading, who entered the week on a roll and now find themselves with a three-game losing streak. They took three straight from New Hampshire, scoring six runs or more in all of them, but then were swept by New Britain, scoring just seven runs in three games. Despite the mini skid, Reading still holds a 3.5-game lead in the division. Top hitting performers - 1B Brock Stassi hit safely in all six games, going 7-17 (.412) with a home run, eight runs scored, six RBI, six walks, a .520 on-base percentage and a 1.285 OPS. He now has 83 RBI this season…OF Destin Hood drove in 10 runs in five games thanks to a career-high 6-RBI game on August 19, during which he homered twice and doubled…SS J.P. Crawford hit .308 with a double, triple, four runs scored and three stolen bases. Top pitching performers - RHP Jake Thompson tossed 6.0 innings, striking out seven while allowing just two runs. He has pitched 6.0 innings or more and allowed two runs or fewer in all four of his starts with Reading…RHP Ethan Martin did not allow a run in his 5.2 frames on August 22 and now has allowed only two runs in his last 17.2 innings (1.02 ERA)…RHP Reinier Roibal made two appearances out of the bullpen, combining to surrender one unearned run on one hit in 4.1 innings. Clearwater Threshers - Florida State League North Division…35-22, 2^nd place, 72-55 overall… The Threshers' offense exploded last week as they combined for 48 runs in seven games on the way to a 5-2 record. They won three straight over Dunedin on the road, took the opener of a three-game set from Brevard County and rebounded from two losses to win game one of an important series with the first -place Daytona Tortugas. Top hitting performers - OF Aaron Brown was named Phillies Minor League Player of the Week after batting .455 in six games with a home run, two doubles and a couple of RBI…OF Dylan Cozens recorded four multi-hit games, scored seven runs, doubled, tripled and drove in three runs…1B Rhys Hoskins displayed his power, homering twice and driving in 10 runs in seven games. He also recorded four doubles, helping him to a .750 slugging percentage as he was named Florida State League Player of the Week…3B Mitch Walding batted .409 (9-22) with four RBI, three runs scored, two doubles and a stolen base…OF Andrew Pullin leads the Florida State League with 14 home runs after adding two more to his total last week. They both came in the same game-a 4-4, 4 RBI effort on August 23. He batted .348 with seven RBI for the week…C Willians Astudillo had hits in all four of his games, batting an even .400 with three runs scored and two RBI. His .331 average leads the league. Top pitching performers - RHP Ricardo Pinto was named Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the Week after holding Dunedin scoreless over 6.2 strong innings on the hill. He struck out six batters and allowed only three hits…RHP Yacksel Rios also had a strong outing during which he surrendered just three hits over 6.0 shutout innings…RHP Alexis Rivero struck out eight batters in 5.0 innings, nailing down two saves in as many chances. His five strikeouts and 3.0 innings on August 19 were both season highs…RHP Alberto Tirado struck out six batters and did not allow a hit over 5.0 innings in relief (two games). Lakewood BlueClaws - South Atlantic League Northern Division…30-26,T-2^nd place, 63-61 overall…Lakewood fell 9.0 games out of first place after winning only two of their seven games last week. Their wins came consecutively-the finale of a series against Delmarva and opener of a series against West Virginia-and they finished the week with three straight losses. Top hitting performers -OF Jiandido Tromp recorded a team-high 10 hits as he batted .400 with a home run and five RBI and a stolen base…1B/3B Damek Tomscha had hits in all but one of his six games, driving in five runs and scoring four more while hitting .350…2B Scott Kingery went 7-24 (.292) and led the team with six runs scored and three stolen bases…C Deivi Grullon hit two home runs-they came in consecutive games-and drove in five runs. Top pitching performers - For the second time in three starts, RHP Tyler Viza threw 8.0 innings and allowed one unearned run as he lowered his season ERA to 3.38…LHP Elniery Garcia yielded five hits over 6.0 frames, with just one run crossing the plate…RHP Manny Martinez had two relief outings of 3.0 innings, allowing no hits with four strikeouts in the first and one hit with two strikeouts in the second…RHP Will Morris tossed 5.0 scoreless innings in his lone start and now has back-to-back scoreless outings. His ERA is 1.59 through his first 12 games. Williamsport Crosscutters - New York-Penn League Pinckney Division…39-22, 1^st place…The Crosscutters had an abbreviated week of action as the New York-Penn League All-Star Break took place from August 17-18. They returned from the break as hot as they were entering it, winning four of five including a three-game sweep over Auburn. They held a 5.5-game lead in the division with 15 games to play as of Monday. Top hitting performers - CF Carlos Duran had multiple hits in three of his four games played, batting .500 (7-14) with an RBI, run and stolen base…2B Josh Tobias batted .333, drove in four runs, scored three and stole a couple of bases for Williamsport…OF Mark Laird had six hits in 18 at-bats (.333) with three RBI and three runs scored. He had three straight two-hit games to finish the week…C Austin Bossart hit safely in three of his four games (.333, 5-15) and has now hit safely in 25 of 28 with the Crosscutters. Top pitching performers - RHP Alejandro Arteaga has now allowed only one earned run in three straight starts after tossing 6.0 innings of one-run ball on August 22 against Auburn…RHP Franklyn Kilome tied a season-high 6.0 innings pitched on August 21, allowing just one run…RHP Robert Tasin now has 13 saves in 14 chances this season after securing two saves in two chances last week. GCL Phillies - Gulf Coast League, Northwest Division…32-20,2^nd place…The Phillies Gulf Coast League affiliates sit 2.5 games out of first after a 3-3 showing last week. They had a chance to gain some ground on the Blue Jays with a two-game sweep, but they split the home-home series, ending the week with a 3-1 loss on Saturday. Top hitting performers - C Edgar Cabral is batting .294 this season after hitting .308 with three runs last week…OF Juan Luis had four runs scored, three walks and a pair of triples in six games played. Top pitching performers -  RHP Felix Paulino picked up the win on August 20 after allowing one run on five hits in 6.0 innings of work…RHP Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez made two starts, firing 2.0 scoreless innings with three strikeouts in the first and 3.0 shutout frames in the second…RHP Adonis Medina started one game, shutting out the GCL Blue Jays for 5.0 innings while surrendering only three hits…LHP Zach Morris came out of the bullpen for two games, combining to throw 4.1 innings with no runs allowed, one hit and seven strikeouts.

Moyer To Honor Montgomery – Jamie Moyer left the Phillies' broadcast booth last fall to spend more time with his family. But he returned to Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday to promote The Moyer Foundation's third annual Champions for Children luncheon on Sept. 15 at the Crystal Tea Room in Philadelphia, where Phillies chairman David Montgomery will be presented The Jamie Moyer Legends Award. Montgomery also will be honored with the foundation's Community All-Star Award. "Honoring David was easy," Moyer said. "We know he's not real keen on those types of accolades. He's involved with so many things. I just think it was the right thing to do." The luncheon brings together hundreds of Philadelphia business leaders and community members to support the foundation's mission to "provide comfort, hope and healing to children affected by loss and family addiction." Chris Wheeler will emcee the luncheon, which will be attended by former Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell and Phillies greats like Mike Schmidt, Larry Bowa, Bob Boone and Greg Luzinski. Proceeds will benefit The Moyer Foundation and its two signature programs: Camp Erin and Camp Mariposa. Visit moyerfoundation.org for more information.

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies have returned to their lackluster ways and regained their grip on last place in the NL East with a record of 50-76. Given the departures, aging stars, injuries, and bipolar performances this season, this could still end up being the worst team in franchise history… at least that is something to hope for this year! All time, the Phillies are 51-58-0 on this day.

Howard Hits And Hamels No Hits Cubs As Phillies Revisit 2008

GAME RECAP: Phillies Blank Cubs 5-0

If this was Cole Hamels' last start with the Phillies, it was a beauty. A prime target for teams looking for starting pitching prior to Friday's non-waiver Trade Deadline, the left-hander threw a no-hitter in the Phillies' 5-0 victory over the Cubs on Saturday at Wrigley Field. "Nothing will top winning a World Series, but this is right under it," said Hamels. Ryan Howard belted a three-run homer off Jake Arrieta in the third to back Hamels, who struck out 13 for the 29th double-digit strikeout game of his career. How frustrated were the Cubs? When Jorge Soler struck out in the seventh, his third K of the day, he broke his bat over his knee. After all, Hamels had more hits himself -- he doubled in the eighth -- than Chicago did in the game. "It's not what I envisioned," Hamels said, asked about this possibly being his final start for the Phillies. "It's not what I thought. It's not in my thought process. I think all I've been thinking about the past couple days was just to kind of correct my pitching, just being able to be out there and enjoy the moment. "Just a surreal moment." It was the third no-hitter in the Major Leagues this season (Chris Heston and Max Scherzer) and first time the Cubs have been no-hit since the Dodgers' Sandy Koufax did so on Sept. 9, 1965, throwing a perfect game in a 1-0 win. That was 7,920 games ago. The last no-hitter at Wrigley was Sept. 2, 1972 by the Cubs' Milt Pappas. The game ended with Kris Bryant flying out to center fielder Odubel Herrera, who dove at the warning track to make the grab. It was Herrera's second hit-saving catch of the game as he robbed David Ross of a potential double in the eighth. Once the Phillies realized Herrera had caught Bryant's ball, they mobbed Hamels in the infield to celebrate. "Give the credit to [Hamels] -- don't denigrate our guys," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "Credit Cole Hamels today. He pitched that well. He had everything going on. His velocity was up, his changeup is always outstanding, his curveball was there. We hit a couple balls well toward the end. They didn't fall. Under the circumstances like this, give their guy the credit."

OTHER NOTES FROM THE DAY:

• Hamels posted a 19.89 ERA in his last two starts, and some wondered if that could affect his value before Friday's Deadline. But Hamels answered any doubts or concerns with an absolutely dominant performance. The only question for Hamels is: What's next? "Nothing will top winning a World Series, but I think this is probably on that top list," Hamels said. "It's right under it. Being able to go out there and feel confident, executing pitches, being able to keep guys, especially the type of team I was facing."
• Hamels has had some of the worst run support in baseball this season -- the Phillies had been held scoreless in 48 of his previous 53 1/3 innings on the mound -- but first baseman Howard hit a two-out, three-run home run to center field in the third inning to hand the Phils a 3-0 lead. The entire rally started with two outs as Herrera doubled and Maikel Franco walked, setting up Howard's 17th homer of the season.
• The bottom of the eighth inning was delayed because Phillies center fielder Herrera forgot his sunglasses. But he made up for it. Herrera made a spectacular running catch in left-center field for the second out, spearing Ross' line drive on the warning track. Herrera tumbled to the ground as he caught the ball, kicking up a pile of dirt in the first of two memorable defensive plays. "I thought that the ball would either go over or hit the wall, and I wanted to be able to jump or climb or whatever I needed to do to catch it," Herrera said through translator Andres Blanco. "I didn't expect the wind to stop the ball the way it did. I didn't slide. I just dived to catch the ball."
• Hamels was part of a combined no-hitter on Sept. 1, 2014, against the Braves, as the lefty and three relievers shut down Atlanta.
• This was the first time the Cubs have been no-hit at Wrigley Field since Aug. 19, 1965, in the first game of a doubleheader when the Reds' Jim Maloney did so. The Cubs had gone 49 full seasons without being no-hit, the longest span in Major League history.
• Carlos Ruiz caught his fourth no-hitter, which set a National League record and tied Boston's Jason Varitek for the most by a catcher in baseball history. Ruiz caught Roy Halladay's perfect game in 2010, Halladay's postseason no-hitter in '10 and the Phillies' combined no-hitter (Hamels, Jake Diekman, Ken Giles and Jonathan Papelbon) last September.
• "He definitely increased his value, I would imagine. You're going to get that higher-tier prospect because of that performance today. He was really good. He is really good." -- Maddon, on Hamels.
• "He almost gave me a heart attack." -- Phillies first-base coach and outfield instructor Juan Samuel, on Herrera's ninth-inning catch.

NEXT GAME:

Rookie right-hander Aaron Nola hopes to build upon his big league debut last week against the Rays, when he allowed five hits, one run, one walk and struck out six in six innings in a 1-0 loss. Nola is ranked the No. 28 prospect in baseball, according to MLBPipeline.com. Sunday will be Jason Hammel's second start since he was sidelined with a sore left hamstring. In his last outing, he did not get a decision against the Reds, giving up five hits over five innings. He has a 2.20 ERA in eight starts at Wrigley Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1:20 p.m. CT.

PHILS PHACTS:

Herrera Saves Historic Start – Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera turned and ran hard toward the ivy-covered wall in center field in the ninth inning Saturday at Wrigley Field. Cole Hamels needed just one more out for the first solo no-hitter of his career and the 13th in Phillies history, when he threw a 3-2 curveball to Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant. Bryant crushed the ball to the deepest part of the park. It looked like it might be a home run, but it died in the wind and Herrera dived at the last possible second to snatch the ball just inches from the ground. Hamels had done it. Herrera had saved the no-hitter, which the Phillies won, 5-0, with a scary-looking grab. "I saw the contact of the ball," Herrera said through his translator and teammate Andres Blanco. "I thought that the ball would either go over or hit the wall, and I wanted to be able to jump or climb or whatever I needed to do to catch it. I didn't expect the wind to stop the ball the way it did. I didn't slide. I just dived to catch the ball." Herrera said he did not panic when he realized he needed to dive to catch it. "It was just a reaction," he said. Of course, while Herrera did not panic, many others suffered as they watched it develop. "He almost gave me a heart attack," Phillies first base coach and outfield instructor Juan Samuel said. Herrera made another memorable catch with one out in the eighth inning when David Ross ripped a ball to left-center field. Herrera headed toward the wall, but curved back toward the ball to catch it. He tumbled to the turf, kicking up a cloud of dust. "The ball was in the gap and my first reaction was go deep on the angle of the ball," Herrera said. "I knew that a no-hitter was going on, so the first thing that crossed my mind was hold onto the ball." The last thing on his mind before the inning was remembering his sunglasses. The beginning of the eighth got delayed as a bat boy ran Herrera's sunglasses out to him. "I knew he forgot them," Blanco said. "I called time out and told the bat boy, make sure you get him his sunglasses." Herrera almost left the ballpark without talking about his two plays, but he seemed to appreciate the moment. "It feels awesome," he said. "I'm proud I caught them."

Final Game For Phillies? – If this is Cole Hamels' final moment in a Phillies uniform, he made it an unforgettable one. Hamels had 41,683 fans on their feet in the ninth inning Saturday evening at Wrigley Field, where he threw the 13th no-hitter in Phillies history in a 5-0 victory over the Cubs. He walked two batters and struck out 13 in a thoroughly dominant performance that comes just six days before Friday's non-waiver Trade Deadline. "Just a surreal moment," Hamels said. Hamels shared his thoughts about his no-hitter and his future with the Phillies in a tiny interview room underneath the stands inside the historic ballpark. Afterward, he returned to the visitors' clubhouse, crossing the playing field along the way, hearing cheers from Phillies fans still trying to exit the building. He had an almost peaceful look on his face as he arrived at his locker, a bottle of Dom Perignon sitting on the top shelf. He showered, changed and left for the team bus with teammate Cody Asche. Hamels met his wife, Heidi, and his family outside. He signed autographs for fans. “After throwing 129 pitches and a no-hitter, Cole signed autographs and thanked fans outside Wrigley Field. pic.twitter.com/yWx2pJTgoi” — Phillies (@Phillies) July 26, 2015. "I mean, it's not what I envisioned," Hamels said, asked if he thought about this being his final start with the Phillies. "It's not what I thought. It's not in my thought process. I think all I've been thinking about the past couple days was just to kind of correct my pitching, just being able to be out there and enjoy the moment." Hamels had a 19.89 ERA in his past two starts, which had many wondering if he would be traded before Friday's 4 p.m. ET Deadline. Yes, Hamels has a tremendous track record, but if he threw another clunker, it might have raised too many concerns for teams being asked to part with top prospects. Of course, the reality is even before Hamels stepped onto the mound, talks about him had heated up. The Rangers, Yankees, Dodgers, Cubs and Giants are making the hardest pushes for Hamels, according to multiple sources who have spoken to MLB.com over the past couple days. The Phillies and Rangers recently reengaged talks, and a source said the Yankees' interest is more than just an organization performing its due diligence. The Cubs have been interested in Hamels since last summer. The Dodgers have been coveting Phillies' starting pitchers the past few years, starting with Cliff Lee in 2012. The Giants are looking for a top-of-the-line starter to make a push back to the postseason. "He definitely increased his value, I would imagine," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said with a smile. "You're going to get that higher-tier prospect because of that performance today. He was really good. He is really good." "I'd be surprised if Ruben's phone isn't [ringing] off the hook right now as we speak," Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin said about general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. Hamels came out firing with his fastball, hitting 96 mph throughout the day. The Cubs squared up a few balls, most notably in the eighth and ninth innings. But Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera made a running catch in left-center field in the eighth, kicking up a cloud of dust as he tumbled onto the warning track, He also made a last-second dive on the warning track in center to make the final out of the game. "Thanks goodness the wind was blowing in," Hamels said about Kris Bryant's game-ending flyout. "That was definitely the one pitch I'm glad I got away with." Hamels, who threw 129 pitches, said he felt no extra pressure as he pitched deeper into the game. He had watched former teammate Roy Halladay throw a perfect game in 2010 and a postseason no-hitter that same year. Hamels participated in a combined no-hitter last September against the Braves. Oh, and Hamels also had some pretty memorable performances in the postseason, earning 2008 National League Championship Series and World Series Most Valuable Player Awards. "Nothing will top winning a World Series, but I think this is probably on that top list," he said. "It's right under it." But now the wait begins. Will Hamels be traded? If a team had been reticent to part with a particular prospect, maybe this performance will resonate as it dreams about October. "He was really good, and he is really good," said Maddon, who managed the Rays in that 2008 World Series. "I don't know about his last two outings. I only get to see him like that." "I'm wearing the Phillies' red, and that's where I've planned to play," Hamels said. "It's out of my control. I try to wake up every day and drive to Citizens Bank Park and play with the big 'P' on my chest. That's kind of what I've done since the moment I got drafted by them, and that's what I'm going to continue to do until somebody says, 'No.'"

Did You Know: No-No Edition – Phillies ace Cole Hamels dazzled against the Cubs on Saturday, tossing the third no-hitter in the Majors this season. From picking up the first no-hitter at Wrigley Field in nearly a half-century to having now tossed both a solo and combined no-hitter, Hamels made plenty of history in what could be one of his final starts in a Phillies uniform. Here's a look at 10 of the top facts and figures surrounding his historic 5-0 outing:

·         Saturday marked the first time the Cubs had been no-hit in nearly 50 years. Prior to Saturday, the last time the Cubs were held hitless was Sept. 9, 1965, when the Dodgers' Sandy Koufax tossed a perfect game for the last of his four career no-hitters.

·         As for the previous no-hitter thrown at Wrigley Field, that honor belongs to Milt Pappas on Sept. 7, 1972. Pitching for the Cubs at the time, Pappas lost a perfect game against the Padres with a two-out walk in the ninth before ultimately holding on for the no-hitter.

·         Hamels not only held the Cubs hitless, but he actually outhit them thanks to an eighth-inning double. In doing so, Hamels extended the recent trend of no-hit pitchers outhitting their opponents. Each of the last five pitchers to throw a no-hitter in a National League ballpark -- Hamels, Max Scherzer, Chris Heston, Jordan Zimmermann and Tim Lincecum -- has collected at least one hit of his own.

·         That's not the only trend involving NL pitchers and no-hitters, however, as the NL has now accounted for each of the last 12 no-hitters since Felix Hernandez's no-no for the Mariners on Aug. 15, 2012. That extends the Modern Era record for most consecutive no-hitters thrown by one league. The previous record was nine straight thrown by the AL from 1908-12.

·         Only six pitchers have notched more strikeouts than Hamels' 13 in a no-hitter. Nolan Ryan struck out at least 14 batters in four of his seven no-hitters, while the Astros' Don Wilson, the Braves' Warren Spahn, Koufax, the Giants' Matt Cain and the Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw each accomplished the feat once.

·         Those 13 strikeouts helped Hamels finish his historic outing with a Game Score of 98, tied for the highest in a nine-inning start in Phillies history. It matches Roy Halladay's 2010 perfect game and Steve Carlton's 14-strikeout one-hitter in 1972.

·         Saturday's no-hitter not only made history on the mound, but also behind the plate. It was the fourth no-hitter caught Carlos Ruiz, tying Jason Varitek for the most all-time. Prior to Saturday, Ruiz had also caught both Halladay's regular-season perfect game and postseason no-hitter in 2010, as well as a combined no-hitter started by Hamels last season.

·         Speaking of that combined no-no, Hamels became just the fifth pitcher all-time to be part of a combined no-hitter and throw one on his own. The others are Kevin Millwood, Kent Mercker, Mike Witt and Vida Blue, with Hamels joining Mercker as the only ones to complete the solo no-hitter after being part of a combined effort.

·         Hamels' no-hitter comes in the midst of seemingly endless trade rumors surrounding the Phillies ace. For what it's worth, only two pitchers since 1900 -- Cliff Chambers of the 1951 Pirates and Edwin Jackson of the 2010 D-backs -- have been traded during the same season in which they threw a no-hitter.

·         If he were to be traded before his next start, Hamels would become the first pitcher to throw a no-hitter in his final start before being traded since Bert Blyleven in 1977. Blyleven tossed a no-hitter in his final start of the '77 season with the Rangers before being traded to the Pirates that offseason.

What’s The Impact On Hamels’ Trade Value? – His full name is Colbert Michael Hamels, and, honestly, the Colbert Report, of late, had not been especially flattering. Track record has its limits when teams are talking trade. So while Hamels' four top-10 finishes in the National League Cy Young Award voting and 2008 World Series heroics are all wonderful accomplishments, the bottom line is that a team considering the surrender of prized prospects and the addition of Hamels' lofty price tag to the payroll probably wanted to see more from that long left arm than his last couple starts had wrought. So there were a lot of industry eyeballs on Wrigley Field on Saturday afternoon. And by the time Odubel Herrera's circus catch had sealed the first no-hitter against the Cubs in 50 years, the number of eyeballs on the bearded, brilliant Hamels had multiplied considerably. This was history. And maybe soon, Hamels' Phillies career will be the same. If this was his Philly finale, what a way to go. If it wasn't, well, that's only because the trade equation for a guy making big money north of $30 million is a lot more complicated than we'd like it to be. But if there was any concern on the part of the Yankees, Dodgers, Red Sox, Giants, Rangers, Astros and, yes, the Cubs that Hamels was injured, inattentive or otherwise incapable of providing a big second-half boost, Hamels emphatically answered the doubters. "Nothing will top winning a World Series," he said afterward. "But this is right under it." In the two starts that preceded this gem, Hamels had been roughed up to the tune of 14 earned runs on 20 hits over just 6 1/3 combined innings. Woof. Around the game, eyebrows were elevated. Teams send extra scouts to July games for a reason. They've got access to every player's baseball-reference.com page if they want to know what they've done in the past. The present gains gravitas as the conversations in the leadup to Friday's non-waiver Trade Deadline pick up steam. We know that the Phillies have at least been open to the idea of moving Hamels for a year now, and they got serious about dealing him over the winter. A deep free-agent pitching class negatively impacted his trade value in the offseason, and an even deeper class awaits next offseason. So while the Phillies have been adamant all along about getting both major salary relief (Hamels is due to make a minimum of $78 million between now and the end of 2018) and netting at least two near-Major League-ready players, the industry has not exactly complied. Neither, in fact, has Hamels himself. This has been a down year, especially by his lofty standards. He went into Saturday with an adjusted ERA+ of 96, putting him in danger of his first below-average season in that stat since 2009. Hamels' last two starts -- against the Giants and Marlins -- were the low point, and they came at a particularly bad point. Though this trade market isn't exactly ripe with sellers, there are/were a number of starting-pitching assets out there, including the just-moved Scott Kazmir, as well as other short-term rentals in Johnny Cueto and Mike Leake and the possible involvement of Jeff Samardzija, Yovani Gallardo and the big one -- David Price -- to name but a few. With teams reluctant to part with top talent and the number of clubs who can realistically take on Hamels' salary limited to a precious few, this is a very tough environment for the Phillies' new-look front office (Andy MacPhail will soon be taking over as team president, working alongside general manager Ruben Amaro Jr.) to get a franchise-shaping return. Saturday's nine innings, therefore, meant a great deal toward the deal discussions. This was reminiscent of the Hamels we all remember from the fall of '08 and a multitude of wonderful moments in the red pinstripes over the years. Hamels mixed his pitches well, routinely hit Carlos Ruiz's spots and was consistently around 95 mph on the radar gun with his fastball. You couldn't help but feel happy for Hamels, Ryan Howard and Ruiz that, as only the healthy last remnants of the Phillies' championship run remain (Chase Utley is on the disabled list), they were able to share this moment together. Hamels had put extra emphasis on his bullpen session between starts, because, frankly, he knows what's on the line right now. He has made it no secret he wants no part of a rebuild. He wants to be on a team built to win around him, and a no-no against the most exciting young lineup in the game was a welcomed reminder of what ol' Hollywood Hamels is capable of when he's on top of his game. The Cubs were watching, quite clearly. That Hamels himself out-hit them with his double in the eighth had to be humbling. And maybe it had Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer thinking a little harder about what a Hamels-Lester tandem would look like atop their rotation for the foreseeable future. Or maybe the Dodgers will now think a little harder about how to put together a package for Hamels that somehow doesn't involve Corey Seager or Julio Urias. Ditto the Yankees and Aaron Judge, Luis Severino or Greg Bird. Or the Red Sox and Mookie Betts and Blake Swihart. Again, a trade this massive is complicated. Too complicated to just blindly assume that Hamels' price tag suddenly skyrocketed. But when teams consider a deal of this magnitude, they want to feel they are acquiring an asset capable of moving the needle. For nine no-hit innings, Colbert Michael Hamels showed us that, and his timing -- for himself and for the team that still employs him -- was impeccable. 

Chooch Goes In The Record Books Too – The logic seemed simple enough to Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz on Saturday. For eight innings, he had worn his sunglasses, and for eight innings, Cole Hamels had not given up a hit. But as the sun hid behind the third-base stands and the shade fell over home plate at Wrigley Field, Ruiz took off his glasses before beginning the ninth. Then the thought finally crossed his mind that maybe he hadn't been superstitious enough, and maybe he had hurt Hamels' chances at the no-hit bid. He had been in this situation before, having caught three no-hitters already in his career. But Ruiz got off the hook, running out to hug Hamels after the lefty completed the no-no and the Phillies' 5-0 win over the Cubs. "I didn't think it can happen [once I removed them], but finally it did happen, and I'm real happy," Ruiz said. "Today was one of those games when I knew he was on." A nine-year veteran, Ruiz caught the fourth no-hitter of his career, tying a Major League record with former Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek. He previously caught Hamels' other no-hitter, a combined effort with relievers Jake Diekman, Ken Giles and Jonathan Papelbon in September 2014, when Hamels threw six no-hit innings. He caught two no-hitters by Roy Halladay, one against the Marlins in May 2010 and the other in the National League Division Series against Cincinnati that same year. "Personally, I'm real happy," Ruiz said of his feat. "It's special for me, and I'm excited right now -- so are my teammates and Cole. I'm trying to do my best behind home plate, and I give everything to Cole, because I'm the guy who caught the ball, and he did everything in different situations." A quiet and reserved player, Ruiz has caught several other excellent pitchers beyond Halladay. He's been around to catch Roy Oswalt and Cliff Lee, but his relationship with Hamels has been one of the longest. "We get into habits where we don't even need to call signs," Hamels said. "I think that's something special. I think anybody who's been able to have a combination like that kind of has that understanding. "When you're able to get that, it's special. That's tough to develop. He's a tremendous catcher and it just shows. If he wasn't, he wouldn't be catching that many no-hitters or perfect games." Ruiz knew Hamels had struggled as of late with his two-seam fastball, so he told him stick to his four-seam pitch. And he knew how effective his curveball had become, so when Hamels had 0-2 counts, Ruiz made sure he threw the pitch. Ruiz knew, around the sixth inning, that Hamels was in for a special day. He understood the pitcher and maintained the same approach inning after inning. Except for his sunglasses, of course. "I'm really happy for him," Ruiz said. "That was special."

Pursuing Papelbon – Jonathan Papelbon swore he made no sales pitch to Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer when he chatted with them Friday afternoon at Wrigley Field. Either way, Chicago is interested in him. Two baseball sources told MLB.com on Saturday afternoon that the Cubs, Blue Jays and Nationals are the three teams most seriously pursuing Papelbon with less than a week remaining before Friday's non-waiver Trade Deadline. Papelbon has a limited no-trade clause, but he has said repeatedly it will not be an issue if he is traded to a contender. He also has said he will not leave the Phillies to be a setup man. That will not be a problem for the Cubs, who are closing by committee, or the Blue Jays, who have Aaron Sanchez and Roberto Osuna holding down the late innings. But the Nationals have Drew Storen, who was 1-0 with a 1.73 ERA and 29 saves in 31 opportunities entering Saturday. Papelbon is 2-1 with a 1.59 ERA and 17 saves in 17 opportunities. Perhaps the Nationals would make Storen the setup man to facilitate a trade. This is not to say a deal is imminent or one will happen, but with the Trade Deadline nearing, the talk is intensifying. That should please Papelbon, who has been asking for more than a year to be traded.

Last Chance? – The Domonic Brown assessment continued Saturday afternoon at Wrigley Field. Brown was in the lineup in right field and at the No. 8 spot in Cole Hamels' no-hitter against the Cubs, a 5-0 Phillies victory. He went 1-for-4 with a single in the fourth inning. He entered Saturday batting .229 (24-for-105) with four doubles, eight RBIs and a .550 OPS in 33 games this season. His .618 OPS since Aug. 14, 2013, when he hit his final home run of the year, ranked 273rd out of 290 qualified hitters in baseball and 113th out of 119 outfielders. "His leash isn't as long as it used to be," Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said earlier this month. "That's been communicated to him." It remains to be seen how much more of a chance Brown will get. Aaron Altherr is hitting a combined .294 (101-for-343) with 25 doubles, four triples, 11 home runs, 51 RBIs and an .851 OPS with Double-A Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Some view Altherr as a fourth or fifth outfielder, but he might be worth a look the final two months of the season, especially if Brown continues at his current pace. "I don't want to say or do anything to upset his approach right now because he's getting his hits, but we're looking for some pop off the bat," Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin said about Brown, who was 11-for-36 with one double in his past 12 games entering Saturday. "Domonic is not a run scorer. He's a run producer. We want to see power. He hasn't shown that power all year, including Triple-A." Brown hit two home runs in 210 at-bats this season in Triple-A. He hit one in 17 at-bats with Class A Advanced Clearwater. That is 13 homers in 896 at-bats (one every 68.9 at-bats) since Aug. 14, 2013, including his 227 at-bats in the Minor Leagues. "I don't mean for him to hit 40 home runs, although it would be nice, but we would like to see him in that groove where he was a few years ago," Mackanin said. Mackanin said he has not followed Altherr too closely, which only makes sense. The front office has asked for the long look at Brown, and his time will be up only when it decides that is the case. "I've got enough outfielders to try to get playing time," Mackanin said. "I know Altherr has been having a lot of success, and that's good, because he's an above-average defender. But I don't concern myself with that right now, because there's so much in the near term and long term to iron out. That's the least of my concerns right now. "It's important for us to give [Brown] every chance that we can to prove either that he's going to be in our future or not."

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies are starting the season as expected and are now at the bottom of the NL east at 36-63. Given the departures, aging stars, injuries, and performance so far this season, this could end up being the worst team in franchise history! All time, the Phillies are 50-53-0 on this day.