Papelbon Makes National Headlines For All The Wrong Reasons

At Citizens Bank Park, closer Jonathan Papelbon squared off against Philly fans and lost.

Papelbon, behaving like the beastly Boston jock he is, grabbed his crotch while facing the crowd-- or did he?

Either way, umpire Joe West, who, in Papelbon's defense is nicknamed 'Cowboy', ejected the turbulent all-star veteran from the game for seemingly making a lewd gesture utilizing his reproductive organ.

Papelbon appeared to be responding to the raucous boos that serenaded his career worst appearance in relief Sunday.

Papelbon matched a career high by allowing 4 runs in 1 inning, single-handedly causing the Phillies to lose by blowing a 3 run 9th inning lead.  When Papelbon entered, the Phils led 4-1, on the verge of a sweep over Miami.  When he left, they trailed 5-4 en route to a loss.  It was as bad as could be, except the home team had already been playoff-eliminated long before the first pitch was thrown in Sunday's contest.

In 2012, when Papelbon ditched Boston for the Phils, he gave this explanation to 94WIP's "Angelo Cataldi and The Morning Team:"

"The Philly fans tend to know the game a little better," he said.  "Being in the National League, you know, the way the game is played."

Sunday, however, he was trying to square dance away from his unflattering improvisational method for either itchy private parts or childish fight-back antics.  Either way, it was an unflattering day for the star reliever, who is set to make $13-million in 2015 and 2016 if he, and the Phillies, don't get their collective wish for him to be traded.

''This is baseball,'' Papelbon told reporters at Citizens Bank Park. ''I had to make an adjustment and I did it and by no means am I directing anything at any fans. When I'm out there and in the moment, the fans are irrelevant to me. I don't see them. I don't hear them. To me, this is pretty stupid, to be totally honest with you.

''They pay money, they want to see a good game and they have the right to boo and do whatever they want to do, but when an umpire gets caught up in that and starts trying to look for extra things he may think are going on -- just umpire the game... I think Joe [West] took it to a different level."

West didn't agree.

'I was just really, really itchy.'

''I told him, `You've got to go,''' West said to reporters. ''And then he charged out of the dugout and his head bumped into my hat. And I grabbed him and I said, `Get off of me.'

''The whole thing started because the fans booed him and he made an obscene gesture. He had no business doing that. He's got to be more professional than that. And that's why he was ejected.''

"By no means was I directing anything at any fans," Papelbon said. "I mean, I have a 4- and a 5-year-old son and daughter. I am not out here doing inappropriate things. Come on this is baseball. This is what we do. Go look at the game and see how many people do that just in today's game…  Joe had no right to grab me by any means so I will file a complaint for that for sure."

See and judge for yourself:

Papelbon: "adjustment" or frontal attack on fans? 

Phils No-Hit Braves With Combined Effort

The team every Phillies fan loves to beat took a first-class beating, hurting their playoff chances Monday in Atlanta.  Somewhere, Curt Schilling was smiling. 

Cole Hamels, Jake Diekman, Ken Giles, and Jonathan Papelbon combined to throw a no-hitter, beating the Braves 7-0 -- and it was weird, as most no-hitters are.

Hamels has NL's 3rd best ERA.

Cole Hamels started the game, but didn't have his best stuff. He walked the first two hitters he faced, five in all, and while he was getting the next three hitters out, lead-off batter Jason Heyward stole second and third. In the bottom of the second, Hamels hit Phil Gosselin.

Heyward would walk a second time in the third inning, and steal yet another base. At this early point in the game, no one was thinking no-hitter, but rather: 'How has Hamels not given up any runs so far?'

The 1-0 score and the as-yet-unrealized no-hitter were in jeopardy when Chris Johnson hit a fast-sinking bloop to right field, but Marlon Byrd made a spectacular play on the ball.

[Watch Byrd's remarkable grab: BYRD SNAG.]

After that third inning scare, Hamels threw two 1-2-3 innings, until he walked Freddie Freeman to start the sixth inning. With 108 pitches under his belt and his no-hitter intact, Hamels was pulled after six innings.

Hamels said there was little argument when manager Ryne Sandberg removed him for a pinch hitter before he could pitch the seventh.

"I understand," Hamels said. "I wasn't so caught up in the no hits because I understood my pitch counts. I was able to get away with six innings. I didn't have as much control as I would like."

His final line: six innings, zero hits, five walks, one hit batter, seven strikeouts, 108 pitches.  Hamels' game moved him into third place in the National League in earned run average at 2.50, the lowest of his nine major league seasons.

And if you were pulling your unqualified ace out of his no-hitter after six innings, what three pitchers would you want to finish it?  Phillies relievers: Jake Diekman, Ken Giles, and Jonathan Papelbon.

They tossed three perfect innings in support of Hamels. No hits, no walks, and five strikeouts. Three of them were from rookie Ken Giles, who has quickly become a fan favorite, for good reason.

Games of 3K's or more in relief with the Phillies:

Giles rookie season is unprecedented in Philly.

Ken Giles (7 in 34 appearances)
Jonathan Papelbon (6 in 189)
Brad Lidge (10 in 214).

Diekman, the first reliever, was surprised when he got to the mound.

"I had no idea (it was a no-hitter) until I ran out and looked at the scoreboard," he said.

And just a bit confused after first baseman Darin Ruf grabbed a soft liner off the bat of Phil Gosselin for the final out and all the Phillies congregated at the mound for something less than the usual no-hitter celebration focused on one pitcher.

"I have no idea what to do right now," Diekman said after the game. 

Giles said he knew what was on the line. It didn't bother him. He struck out the side in a perfect eighth to set up Papelbon for the first combined no-hitter in franchise history.

"I didn't expect to go in, though," Giles said. "I was hoping Cole would be able to finish it by himself, but it's always OK to ask for help once in a while. It's a great thing to be a part of."

Papelbon said he wasn't even sure if he's ever been part of a no-hitter. He hadn't-- until now.

It's the third time in major league history that four pitchers have combined for a no-hitter, the most recent in 1991 by the Baltimore Orioles' Bob Milacki, Mike Flanagan, Mark Williamson and Gregg Olson. The other one was in 1975 by the Oakland Athletics' Vida Blue, Glenn Abbott, Paul Lindblad and Rollie Fingers.

The record for pitchers in a no-hitter is six, set by the Houston Astros in 2003 at Yankee Stadium and matched by the Seattle Mariners against the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2012, the most recent no-hitter by more than one pitcher. Kevin Millwood, who started that game for the Mariners, also pitched a complete-game no-hitter for the Phillies in 2003.

After the game, Hamels described the combined no-hitter as:

"One of the better experiences you can probably have in this sort of situation because it was a whole complete team effort. Most of the time when you see these sort of events it's one or two people, a great play.  This really took four outstanding pitchers to go out there, a good game called by Chooch and some big plays in the outfield with Marlon. It was a full team effort and I think we all can really enjoy it that much more for what it means for the organization."

"This is a really good moment to cherish," Hamels said. "We're with each other seven or eight months a year. I know how difficult it is to go out there, throw nine innings, keep a pitch count within reason. And knowing that you're playing a competitive team that's fighting for a playoff spot, you know they aren't going to take it lightly. I think to be a part of something so special with these three guys and the whole team, there's no better way to sum it up.  It sums up the fight all year, even though it hasn't gone the way we wanted."

Hamels told reporters that the game ball will be given to team president David Montgomery, who recently took a leave of absence to recover from jaw bone cancer surgery.

The Phillies followed Monday's win with another shutout in Atlanta Tuesday, 4-0.

Through The Years: Phillies No-Hitters

Cole Hamels, Jake Diekman, Ken Giles and Jonathan Papelbon combined for just the 12th no-hitter in Philadelphia Phillies history on Monday. The others:

Year	Pitcher	Opponent
2010	Roy Halladay	vs. Reds
2010	Roy Halladay	at Marlins
2003	Kevin Millwood	vs. Giants
1991	Tommy Greene	at Expos
1990	Terry Mulholland	vs. Giants
1971	Rick Wise	at Reds
1964	Jim Bunning	at Mets<<
1906	John Lush	at Brooklyn
1903	Charles Fraser	at Cubs
1898	Red Donahue	vs. Boston
1885	Charles Ferguson	vs. Providence

Date	Pitcher	Final score	Base- runners	Opponent	Catcher	Umpire	Notes	Ref
01885-08-29-0000August 29, 1885	Ferguson, CharlesCharles Ferguson	70001000000000000001–0	unknown	Providence Grays	Clements, JackJack Clements	Curry, WesWes Curry	First no-hitter in franchise history First Phillies no-hitter at home ballpark First Phillies no-hitter at Recreation Park Smallest margin of victory in a Phillies no-hitter (tie)	[9]
01898-07-08-0000July 8, 1898	Donahue, RedRed Donahue	70005000000000000005–0	unknown	Boston Beaneaters	Clements, JackJack Clements	Gaffney, JohnJohn Gaffney	First Phillies no-hitter at Philadelphia Baseball Grounds/Baker Bowl	[10]
01903-09-18-0000September 18, 1903	Fraser, ChickChick Fraser	700110000000000000010–0	unknown	Chicago Cubs	Dooin, RedRed Dooin	Emslie, BobBob Emslie	Largest margin of victory for the Phillies in a no-hitter First Phillies no-hitter in a road game	[11]
01906-05-01-0000May 1, 1906	Lush, JohnnyJohnny Lush£	70006000000000000006–0	unknown	Brooklyn Dodgers	Donovan, JerryJerry Donovan	O'Day, HankHank O'Day	First Phillies no-hitter by a left-handed pitcher	[12]
01964-06-21-0000June 21, 1964	Bunning, JimJim Bunning*¶	70006000000000000006–0	0	New York Mets	Triandos, GusGus Triandos	Sudol, EdEd Sudol	Father's Day Perfect game (first in Phillies history; see also Jim Bunning's perfect game) Longest interval between no-hitters in franchise history Game one of a doubleheader	[13]
01971-06-23-0000June 23, 1971	Wise, RickRick Wise	70004000000000000004–0	1	Cincinnati Reds	McCarver, TimTim McCarver	Dale, JerryJerry Dale	Two home runs also hit by pitcher Rick Wise	[14]
01990-08-15-0000August 15, 1990	Mulholland, TerryTerry Mulholland£	70006000000000000006–0	1	San Francisco Giants	Daulton, DarrenDarren Daulton	Gregg, EricEric Gregg	First Phillies no-hitter at Veterans Stadium	[15]
01991-05-23-0000May 23, 1991	Greene, TommyTommy Greene	70002000000000000002–0	7	Montreal Expos	Fletcher, DarrinDarrin Fletcher	Quick, JimJim Quick	First Phillies no-hitter outside of the United States Shortest interval between regular season no-hitters in franchise history	[16]
02003-04-27-0000April 27, 2003	Millwood, KevinKevin Millwood	70001000000000000001–0	3	San Francisco Giants	Lieberthal, MikeMike Lieberthal	Everitt, MikeMike Everitt	Smallest margin of victory in a Phillies no-hitter (tie)	[17]
02010-05-29-0000May 29, 2010	Halladay, RoyRoy Halladay¶	70001000000000000001–0	0	Florida Marlins	Ruiz, CarlosCarlos Ruiz	DiMuro, MikeMike DiMuro	Perfect game (second in Phillies history; see also Halladay's perfect game) Smallest margin of victory in a Phillies no-hitter (tie)	[18]
02010-10-06-0000October 6, 2010	Halladay, RoyRoy Halladay	70004000000000000004–0§	1	Cincinnati Reds	Ruiz, CarlosCarlos Ruiz	Hirschbeck, JohnJohn Hirschbeck	Second no-hitter in postseason history; first since Don Larsen's perfect game in 1956 Game 1 of the 2010 National League Division Series First no-hitter at Citizens Bank Park Shortest interval between no-hitters in franchise history	[19]
02014-09-01-0000September 1, 2014	Hamels, ColeCole Hamels£ Jake Diekman£ Ken Giles Jonathan Papelbon	70007000000000000007–0	6	Atlanta Braves	Ruiz, CarlosCarlos Ruiz	Baker, JordanJordan Baker	Labor Day First combined no-hitter in Phillies history Hamels pitched six innings; each reliever threw a single inning Carlos Ruiz catches National League record-tying third no-hit game