Hamels renews hopes for Cy Young


(Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE)

Through the first two months of 2012, Cole Hamels was at the top of the early season Cy Young Award contenders list. Hamels was 8-1 with a 2.43 ERA through his first 10 starts.

Hamels hit a midseason lull in his next nine starts, collecting just three wins and sporting a 4.12 ERA. But he appears to be on his way to finishing the season as strong he started it.

Hamels twirled a seven-hit shutout as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Miami Marlins 4-0 on Monday night. The shutout was the second straight for Hamels.

He is the third Phillies pitcher to toss consecutive shutouts in the last 20 seasons, joining Cliff Lee (2011) and Cory Lidle (2004).

“It’s a matter of making pitches, hitting the target and being precise,” Hamels said. “I feel healthy and confident in all four pitches I’ve been able to throw. It’s just a matter of being able to execute.”

After allowing two runs in the third inning of his start in Washington two weeks ago, Hamels has reeled off 22 consecutive shutout innings. He is three innings shy of tying his career high of 25 innings, set in August-September 2010.

“On nights like that, what do you want me to say?” Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. “He was really good — very good. He had command of the strike zone with his changeup, fastball and cutter. He was hitting really low strikes, had good location in and out and, when he wanted, he would go high. He was good — real good.”

Hamels is 13-6 with a 2.91 ERA after 23 starts. The 28-year-old left-hander, who hasn’t won a Cy Young Award like his teammates Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee, is among the NL leaders in several key statistical categories.

Hamels is first in the league in innings (162 2/3 innings), third in strikeouts (153), sixth in WHIP (1.11) and eighth in ERA (2.91). Hamels is right behind Washington ace Stephen Strasburg (2.90) in the NL ERA race.

“I play to win every ballgame I can, and with that, you get awards for it,” Hamels said. “I play to win. I’m not going to go out there and give up when the season can already be given up on already. I want to win every game I possibly can and start streaks that can transfer over next year. Everything I try to do is to make myself better.”