The Chicago Cubs lost the first game of a four game series to the Philadelphia Phillies as Cole Hamels shut down the Cubs with eight strong innings.  Hamels (12-5) allowed one run and three hits, struck out eight and walked two. The 23-year-old left-hander retired nine of the first 10 batters he faced, and also set down his last nine batters.

Just a terrible performance by the Cubs offense against a tough left hander.  You have to get more people on base and play small ball against a pitcher like Hamels and the Cubs didn’t do that much.  They had their best chance when Hamels walked two batters, and then Ronny Cedeno came up and swung at the first pitch and popped out.  Why was Cedeno swinging at the first pitch after the last two batters walked?  Who knows, but if Cedeno wants more playing time he is going to have to be smarter.

Ted Lilly picked up the lose for the Cubs.  It was his first loss in his last 8 eight games so the streak was meant to come to an end eventually.  He didn’t pitch too bad overall, but let two former White Sox players hit homeruns off of him.  Tadahito Iguchi and Aaron Rowand took Lilly deep that combined for all four Phillies runs.