Cole Hamels entered yesterday’s start against the Florida Marlins with one thing on his mind: Getting a win.  Hamels has been marred in a career-high five game winless streak.  His last win came on July 3rd against the Atlanta Braves. This slump hasn’t been entirely Hamels’ fault.  In three of the five games, Hamels pitched at least seven innings and allowed only two runs.  Unfortunately the “potent” Phillies offense was unable to score any runs.

Well yesterday was no different as Hamels pitched six and a third innings, allowing three runs (two earned), but the offense was unable to drive a run home as the Phillies lost to the Marlins 3-0.

The Marlins got on things going early, when in the second inning Matt Trainor singled home Cody Ross.  Hamels kept the Marlins at bay until the sixth inning when Josh Willingham doubled home Jeremy Hermida.  The Marlins finished the scoring in the seventh.  After loading the bases because of a Ryan Howard error, Hanley Ramirez picked up an RBI after grounding out to shortstop.

Although the Marlins put three on the board, the run in the second proved to be all they needed to give rookie Chris Volstad.  Volstad, making his 5th career start, never allowed to Phillies to get it going.  Volstad mixed his pitches well, and with the aid of an impatient Phillies lineup, he took a no-hitter into the fifth inning.  This was ultimately broken up by Hamels who had one of the Phillies four hits on the afternoon.

It wasn’t like the Phillies didn’t get any chances.  Besides their four hits, the Marlins surrendered six walks, resulting in the Phillies stranding 10 runners on base (six who were in scoring position).  The Phillies had rallies brewing in the six and eighth innings, only for them to end on ground outs to first base.

This loss particularly leaves a bad taste in my mouth.  The lack of offense wastes another strong outing by Hamels and the situational hitting continues to be terrible.  In the series, the Phillies left 30 men on base, and batted a rueful .074 (2 for 27) with runners in scoring position.

With the Met downing the Padres, the Phillies find their lead shrunk to a game-and-a-half over the Marlins and two games over the Mets.  Joe Blanton takes the mound tonight against the Pirates as the Phillies look to find consistancy against the NL Central’s punching bag.