Phillies’ Hamels pitches 1st no-hitter vs Cubs in 50 years

Philadelphia Phillies ace Cole Hamels threw a no-hitter in Saturday’s 5-0 win over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. This time around, Philly will pull the trigger on this trade, as it’s about to rebuild their team’s future.

“Just a surreal moment”, Hamels said.

The Phillies might have stumbled upon something special with Herrera, a life-long second baseman who was forced into the outfield because of the presence of both Chase Utley and Cesar Hernandez. “But this is right there, on that top list with it”. It was his first career no-hitter and was the first no-hitter against the Cubs since Sandy Koufax pitched a flawless game in 1965.

“Obviously this is the confident me and this is the me that goes out and pitches”, Hamels said, admitting he didn’t have that same mindset the last two times out.

Bryant gave the Cubs a 1-0 lead in the third inning with a solo home run. It just so happens that Hamels is actually still earning his paycheck unlike many of his teammates.

The lefthander has been rumored to be on the trade block as the July 31 trade deadline approaches. At Murphy’s Bleachers, a Wrigleyville bar just outside Chicago’s iconic ballpark, the letters on a sign outside read, “TRADE FOR HAMELS NOW”.

“He definitely increased his value”, Maddon said. 223 in July, and a wind blowing in from the north, an oddity on a humid midsummer afternoon near the lake. He faced two batters over the minimum, with first- and sixth-inning walks to Dexter Fowler accounting for the Cubs’ only baserunners. But after wearing sunglasses for the first eight innings he tossed them aside before the start of the ninth inning because it was getting dark in front of home plate.

After losing games started by Jon Lester and Jake Arrieta, the slumping Cubs hope to salvage a win against the resurgent Philadelphia Phillies as Jason Hammel goes after his first victory in seven weeks.

Interim Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said he allowed himself to get caught up in the moment while in the dugout, knowing Hamels’ future with the organization is uncertain. Baez, a Top 5 prospect in all of baseball as recently as a year ago, would be a decent piece in a potential Hamels deal, he’s only one player, and it will take more to land Hamels.

CLEVELAND (AP) – Chris Sale allowed two runs in seven innings and Chicago used a five-run first to power past Cleveland. In the third, he crushed a three-run home run for his 17th homer of the season.

Others lamented the possibility of the no-hitter being Hamels’ last game as a Phillie.

Rodriguez has 23 homers this season and 677 in his career.

Hamels threw six no-hit innings against the Braves on September 1 in a combined no-hitter, but Saturday he was coming off two poor outings while dealing with trade rumors.

Hamels (6-7) was in control right from the start, and then got some help from rookie centre fielder Odubel Herrera in the final two innings.