Phillies Lose Game One Of Doubleheader With Rays 3-2
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Carlos Pena hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning, leading David Price and the Tampa Bay Rays over the Philadelphia Phillies 3-2 Sunday in the opener of a day-night doubleheader.
Phillies starter Cole Hamels pitched three-hit ball for seven shutout innings in his first appearance against the Rays since he was the MVP of the 2008 World Series.
Pena put the Rays ahead when he connected off Antonio Bastardo (2-2) for his 10th home run.
Price (10-4) became the first AL pitcher to reach 10 wins this season. He went seven innings and gave up four hits, including Jimmy Rollins' homer in the sixth.
A duel between two of the top left-handers in the major leagues shaped up from the start. Price left trailing 1-0 before the Rays rallied.
Fernando Rodney pitched a scoreless ninth for his 21st save in 22 chances. Rollins reached second base with two outs after a single and stolen base, but Rodney struck out Hunter Pence swinging to end the game.
Rollins had three hits and Pence had a pair of doubles for the Phillies, who are 6-14 this month.
Hamels was 1-0 with a 2.77 ERA in two starts against Tampa Bay in 2008 when the Phillies won their title. He pitched even better on Sunday.
Hamels retired the first nine batters before walking B.J. Upton to lead off the fourth. After striking out Pena, Hamels surrendered his first hit to Jeff Keppinger — the play was originally ruled an error on third baseman Hector Luna and later changed to an infield single.
Hideki Matsui followed with a clean single to center and the bases were loaded when Ben Zobrist walked. But Hamels got Sean Rodriguez to fly out to end the threat in a 33-pitch frame.
Price allowed a pair of hits in the first inning, including Pence's double. Price retired 11 straight batters until hitting John Mayberry Jr. with one out in the fifth.
Rollins opened the sixth by hitting a changeup to left field for his third homer in as many games. Rollins slumped in April (.235) and May (.241) but raised his June average to .333.
Bastardo entered in the eighth in relief of Hamels and walked two of the first three batters he faced. Pena hit the first pitch over the fence in right field.
The Phillies got a run back in the bottom half on Ty Wigginton's RBI single off Burke Badenhop. Philadelphia had a chance to go in front with the bases loaded and two outs, but left-hander Jake McGee came on and got Michael Martinez to fly out to short right field.
The nightcap originally was scheduled for Friday, but was postponed due to heavy rain, wind and lightning after a 2-hour, 48-minute delay.
NOTES: Jim Thome, pinch-hitting for the Phillies in the eighth, was intentionally walked to tie Mickey Mantle for seventh place all-time with 1,733 walks. ... Hamels fanned seven to tie Hall of Famer Jim Bunning for sixth place on the Phillies' career strikeout list with 1,197. ... The Phillies recalled right-hander B.J. Rosenberg from Triple-A Lehigh Valley prior to the game and Tampa Bay recalled left-hander Alex Torres from Triple-A Durham. Both were recalled due to a new rule allowing teams to add an extra player for doubleheaders. .... The Rays open a three-game series atKansas Cityon Monday night with RHP Alex Cobb (3-3, 3.82 ERA) scheduled to face Royals RHP Luke Hochevar (4-7, 5.65). ...Philadelphia hosts the Pirates on Monday night for the first of four when RHP Joe Blanton (6-6, 5.04) opposes LHP Erik Bedard (4-7, 4.13).
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