Cole_marlins 
  Source: The Miami Herald

Cole Hamels answered the bell on Sunday and delivered big time. Unfortunately, the run support just wasn't there for him. Cole went 8 inning (facing 1 batter in the 9th inning who scored), allowed 2 earned runs, with 8 strikeouts and 0 walks. He left trailing 1-0 in the top of the 9th after allowing a leadoff single. Up until that point the only run he allowed was on a solo HR by Dan Uggla in the 2nd inning – a  wall-scraper down the left field line that was just fair and just over the fence by a few feet, which means that would probably only be a double in most stadiums around the league.

 

In 2009, he only had 5 outings where he went more than 7 innings and allowed 2 or less runs. So this is very encouraging, as this was easily his most commanding performance since a complete game 2-hit shutout vs the Giants in early September last season. He looked like the old Cole Hamels. The way he pitched on Sunday was so gratifying that it almost made you forget they lost the game. It's a long season and given the choice, I'd rather have Hamels start pitching well and lose a tough game now because the bats were quiet, rather than have him pitch poorly and win. It gives him something on which to build on.