Cole Hamels Stock Continues to Rise

The Phillies beat the Pirates Tuesday night, 7-2, to finish the spring training 14-16-4. (Gotta love all those ties.)

Placido Polanco’s three-run homer in the fifth inning was the difference. It was Polanco’s first homer of the exhibition season.

Freddy Galvis’ double was his 23rd hit of the preseason and his ninth extra-base hit in 82 at-bats. He had seven in 121 ABs at Triple A last year. Granted, spring statistics hardly forecast future results, but it’s better than Galvis having zero extra-base knocks.

Jonathan Papelbon made his Citizens Bank Park debut as Phillies closer and pitched a perfect ninth.

Cole Hamels was the game’s first star, tossing four shutout innings in his final prep work before he will start Monday’s home opener against Miami. In his final two spring outings combined, Hamels allowed one earned run in 9 innings. Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Vance Worley will pitch in the three-game set to open the regular season in Pittsburgh. Halladay goes Thursday, followed by Lee on Saturday and Worley on Sunday.

Hamels was openly pumped to start a home opener for the first time in his career.

“The first start is going to be memorable,” he said. “I’m definitely going to enjoy it and I hope they enjoy it, too.”