This wasn't anything like his last three starts when he'd given up just one earned run in 22 2/3 innings.
Last night, "best stuff" was not in Hamels' repertoire.
Still, there was something to admire about Hamels' less-than-stellar outing.
Sometimes it's not about winning a game late. Sometimes it's about not losing a game early.
That's what Hamels did in the Phillies' 9-5 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citizens Bank Park.
Hamels could have imploded. He got into the type of jam that could have easily resulted in the Diamondbacks scoring six or seven runs before the game wasn't half done.
Yet, somehow after throwing 108 pitches, giving up six hits, walking four, hitting two batters and loading the bases three times in five innings, Hamels left the game with the Phillies holding a 4-3 lead.
"I thought Hamels had good stuff," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "His command was off some but he wasn't wild.
"He held the game close. We ended up winning."
This is the magic of baseball.
Hamels had been spectacular in his last two starts, giving up just one run over 15 innings.
He deserved better than two no-decisions, but the Phillies won both games.
Last night, it took an entirely different route to end up with the same result.
And at this juncture, when the Phillies are fighting to catch back up to the Atlanta Braves in the race for the National League East, positive results - no matter how they come about - are the only things that matters.
The Phillies won.
Atlanta lost 3-0 to the Washington Nationals.
A week ago, the Phillies were seven games behind the Braves and considered a floundering ship.
Today, they've won a season-high six straight and trail Atlanta by 3 1/2 games.
Again, that's how things change in baseball.
