Phillies starting pitcher Cole Hamels struggled badly with his control for the second time in three starts Thursday. He walked five batters in six innings against the Diamondbacks.
Hamels lasted six innings and allowed just two runs in the outing, despite walking five batters and allowing six hits. He struck out just three batters, his second-lowest total of the season. Despite the quality start, Hamels earned his fifth loss of the season, as the Phillies managed just one run in a 2-1 loss.
Hamels had more walks than strikeouts in the outing, the second time he has done that in eight starts; he only did it three times from 2010-2012, a stretch of 95 starts. He has 11 walks in his last 20 innings.
Hamels is 1-5 with a 4.18 ERA. He has a career-worst 7.49 K/9 and 3.83 BB/9 in 51 2/3 innings. He will try to get back on track in his next start, scheduled for Wednesday against the Indians.