Hamels VS Harper...Round One

On a night in which Phillies pitcher, Cole Hamels dominated eight innings in a 9-3 win over the Nationals, all we care about is the "hit" heard around the sports world.  Long story short; in Bryce Harper's first at bat of the night, Hamels plunked him in the back.  A hit Hamels later referred to as Harper's, "welcome to the big leagues."  Harper would steal home plate on Hamels that same inning and he would go on to be the only offense for the Nationals most of the night.

Hamels was probably the last pitcher in the big leagues who we thought would have done this.  Amazing, baseball media should be high fiving this guy.  Hamels single handily created a division rivalry between the Phillies and Nationals and got people tweeting and talking baseball in the middle of the NBA Playoffs.

Even though it is May, the Phillies still needed this win.  They have major injury issues that have sidelined, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, and pitcher Cliff Lee and stand at the bottom of the NL East at 14-15.  Last season the Phillies dominated baseball, not only did they win their division, they had the best record in the league.  They fell way short of expectations in the post season when they lost in the divisional round to the eventual champion St. Louis Cardinals.  Don't be surprised if this game last night serves as a turning point for the Phillies season.   

If it does they will more then likely have to stare down Harper and the division leading Nationals.  That being a huge question now that Jayson Werth is supposed to be out twelve weeks following wrist surgery today, according to Rotowire.com.  If the Phillies can turn it around, the matchups between Harper and Hamels will become more interesting.  Hamels is a veteran, a proven ace and totally had the green light to hit a rookie in the back. 

However,  Bryce Harper is a special player for the Nationals.  The guy is a freak at the plate and runs the bases hard.  He seems jittery in the box, but in a good way, like he's waiting to smack the next pitch around the park or out of it.  I think its safe to say that he will not be going back down to Triple-A ball any time in the future.  The guy is here to stay.  With that being said, special players get revenge and how sweet it was to have Harper steal home on Hamels during a check to first base.  You almost had to do a double take at the stat line early in the game if you missed it; "hit by pitch, stole home plate."      

It was good TV and perhaps even good baseball to see Hamels step up and beam Harper early in the game.  If anything it served as a great first meeting between the two.  Maybe Hamels throws at him in round two and maybe Harper charges the mound, that would be even better.