Hamels pitched 6.2 innings, allowing four runs (three earned), nine hits and two walks while striking out six against the Athletics on Tuesday. He gave up three home runs and did not factor in the decision.
After giving up just four home runs over 25 innings in April, the left-hander has now given up five in his last two starts (12.1 innings). Hamels had not given up more than seven hits in a game through his first six starts, but Tuesday was the second consecutive outing in which he allowed nine hits. On a brighter note, Hamels' 9.3 K/9 is the best since his rookie season (2006), he's inducing groundballs at a career-high rate and his 85.7 percent strand rate is well above his career average. He'll toe the rubber next against the Angels on Monday.