PHILADELPHIA — Cole Hamels’ puzzling postseason meltdown continues.
The lanky left-hander is still searching for answers after another abysmal playoff outing last night in the Phillies’ 8-5 loss to the Yankees in Game 3 of the World Series.
After a promising beginning that had the Citizens Bank Park crowd in a towel-waving frenzy, Hamels came unglued in stunningly quick fashion.
Hamels, the 2008 World Series MVP who came in sporting a 6.75 ERA in three postseason starts this year, couldn’t hold a 3-0 lead and exited the game to boos after lasting just 4 1/3 innings.
Hamels’ playoff ERA is now 10.38, and he has yet to make it to the seventh inning this postseason.
“That’s been the story of my whole season: Get through hitters, then all of a sudden — boom — I hit a small speed bump,” a dejected Hamels said. “I hit a big one tonight.”
The latest meltdown was even more perplexing because Hamels was untouchable through three innings.
Despite being staked to a three-run lead in the second, Hamels began the process of giving it all back — and more — when he walked Mark Teixeira with one out in the fourth to set up a video-reviewed homer by Alex Rodriguez.
“After [A-Rod’s homer] it looked like things kind of started to snowball on Cole,” Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel said.
It would be Hamels’ pitching counterpart, Andy Pettitte, who would have the pivotal hit in the fifth.
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After giving up a leadoff double to Nick Swisher, Hamels made the puzzling decision to throw Pettitte a first-pitch curveball that Pettitte slapped to score Swisher with the tying run.
“You don’t really anticipate too many pitchers swinging at 0-0 pitches in bunting counts, especially off-speed pitches,” Hamels said. “I learned the hard way with that one.”
Pettitte’s hit appeared to take all the wind out of Hamels and definitely sucked the enthusiasm out of the crowd, which — in light of Hamels’ woeful postseason — had an inkling of what was coming next.
Sure enough, Hamels fell apart, giving up a single to Derek Jeter before surrendering a two-run double by Johnny Damon that made it 5-3.
Manuel had finally seen enough after Hamels walked the next hitter, Teixeira.
Manuel had a bad feeling about Hamels coming into the World Series, and he started Pedro Martinez ahead of Hamels in Game 2 at Yankee Stadium.
All eyes will be on Manuel if the series ends up going seven games, because Hamels’ next turn in the rotation would be in Game 7 in The Bronx.
Would Manuel risk the Phillies’ season — and their hopes of becoming the first NL team since Cincinnati’s Big Red Machine in 1975-76 to repeat as world champions — on another Hamels start?
With the way the series is going, the Phillies can only hope to get that far.