CHICAGO (670 The Score) -- The recent form of Cubs left-hander Cole Hamels has been crucial in solidifying the team's rotation.
Hamels went through a bad stretch in the second half of May, but he has reversed those fortunes lately. On Friday afternoon, he threw eight shutout innings of three-hit ball while striking out 10 to lead the Cubs to a 3-1 win against the Cardinals at Wrigley Field. It marked the fourth time in Hamels' career that he went at least eight innings and struck out 10 or more, and it comes after he threw seven strong innings against the same Cardinals last Sunday, throwing seven innings and giving up just one unearned run.
"You notice the counts today?" Cubs manager Joe Maddon said of Hamels. "Everything was 1-2 for him in the first three or four innings. More command of his changeup and the fastball was hotter -- lots of 92-93 mph. When you have that combination, a hitter just can't count on relaxing and sitting on pitches."
Javier Baez's two-run homer in the first inning would be all the offense Hamels and the Cubs needed. Some Cardinals players said that it was the best-pitched game against them this season.
"It was probably one of the better games I pitched," Hamels said. "I felt really loose and able to ride the fastballs and command my changeup properly."
Hamels had a 5.19 ERA in five starts in May, and he allowed a combined nine earned runs in eight innings across two outings to close the month.
Cubs starters are 4-2 with a 1.96 ERA in the team's last nine games, and Hamels has been part of that force.
"This was also one of the better games that I was in control of my mechanics," Hamels said. "If you execute and do it early, it is going to really put the hitters on their heels. For all starters, that is what we strive to do. That is how you get deep into a ballgame. They are a good team, and I did not take a single at-bat lightly."
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
