Everything You Need to See and Hear from Cole Hamels’ No-Hitter Yesterday

Yesterday was the first day of the summer I was able to get to the shore in Sea Isle, and of course something had to happen to make me almost regret it. Nothing will ever make me regret going to the shore, but it was pretty close once I got those ESPN and Score alerts on my phone that Cole Hamels had a no-hitter through six innings… seven innings… eight innings. The game was blacked out in Sea Isle, but luckily FOX Sports 1 cut into their Giants-Athletics game to show us the CSN Philly feed of Hamels’ last inning.

It could have been worse. I could have been in Chicago and had tried to get tickets for Saturday’s game and then not be able to go because of my schedule while I was there. That’s what happened to my friend, Rob. He wasn’t happy.

Indeed. And Rob is very religious. So, when the Pope comes here in September… watch out.

At least I was able to watch. And that third out was one of the greatest I’ve ever witnessed. I re-watched the last two innings when I got home and saw Odubel Herrera make another great catch in the eighth innings, so it almost seemed proper to have him close out Hamels’ first-ever no-hitter with some sort of crazy play. He did what outfielders are taught to do – try to never let the baseball get behind you, and if that means running too far back, then so be it. Herrera almost did.

He turned around and dove forward to catch the baseball before it hit the ground in front of him. When the dirt kicked up, we weren’t sure what to expect, but once Herrera held his glove high, we knew Hamels had done it. In what could be his last start as a Phillie, Cole Hamels had pitched a no-hitter – or as Harry the K would say – a no-hit, no-run game. The celebration was on, and why not? This team has been abysmal the last three years, with some good things sprinkled in. This was one of those sprinkles.

And it was sort of fitting that Carlos Ruiz caught the no-hitter [his fourth of his career] and Ryan Howard was the first other than Ruiz to congratulate Hamels. That’s what we call a full circle ending, folks.

Some sights and sounds from Hamels’ no-hitter Saturday:

The final out

Herrera saves Hamels’ ass twice.

Every 27 Cubs outs.

Hamels’ post-game press conference.

Frankze’s call.