Wigginton's 6 RBI Power Another Hamels Win

The only downside to Memorial Day Weekend is that moment you realize it's almost over and you start taking inventory on whether did enough or relaxed enough, no matter how much of either you crammed in. First you're ecstatic that the three-day summer kickoff is coming, then it's in full swing, and before you know it, you're telling people it feels like Sunday and isn't it weird Game Of Thrones isn't on while fighting off the thought that you'll be at work tomorrow before giving yourself that hey at least it's a four-day work week pep talk. Well, whether your long awesome weekend met its end on a beach, in traffic hell, on a couch, or in a backyard over a fire, at least the Phillies softened the landing with an 8-4 win to start a three-game set with the Mets. Right?
Cole Hamels notched his Major League-leading eighth win of the season with a fine eight-inning effort, and Ty Wigginton put in a career afternoon, knocking in six runs. Hamels was charged with each of the Mets' four runs despite allowing only seven hits and one walk. Twice the Phillies had two-run leads only to have the Mets catch up, each time on a home run. Neither the heat nor the pair of longballs got to Hamels though, and Wigginton made sure he had enough run support. 
More on that below, if you missed or want to relive it. 
The Phils grabbed a 2-0 lead in the third inning after Mets starter Jonathon Niese got Jimmy Rollins and Placido Polanco out, then walked Hunter Pence and Shane Victorino, who was batting cleanup. Wigginton then got the team's first hit of the day, doubling to right. Great to see the offense wait out a pitcher who had started to struggle, letting him throw balls until he served up a meatball. 
Hamels was punished for walking Lucas Duda in the fifth when Vinny Rottino followed it up with a homer to tie the game at 2. Cole answered with back-to-back strikeouts before getting Niese to ground out and end the inning. The offense immediately got the lead back for him, with Wigginton taking one of his two BBs on the day before John Mayberry Jr BLASTED one to left. The Phils were up 4-2 despite it being only their second hit of the afternoon. 
In the bottom of the sixth, Scott Hairston homered in Kirk Nieuwenhuis to knot the game again. And, in the next frame, the Phils once again regained the lead with Wigginton at the plate. With Bobby Parnell now on the mound, JRoll started the inning with a single for the Phils' third hit. Polly grounded out but moved him over (more on that below), Pence walked, and Shane sac'd Jimmy over to third. Parnell was throwing straight heat, but Wigginton waited for a fat pitch and roped it to center, plating Rollins. 
Cole had a 1-2-3 seventh, then got the Phils' only hit in the eighth (nice to see Jon Rauch keep all his clothes on this time around) before rewarding Charlie Manuel for letting him come back out and face the top of the Mets' order. He allowed a double to pinch-hitter Andres Torres, who got to third on a groundout by Nieuwenhaus. Daniel Murphy grounded out to Galvis, who continues to be outstanding at second base, and David Wright brought his league-leading batting average to the plate. Cole battled him into ground out to third, a tough play handled well by Polanco to end the inning without letting the Mets tie again. 
Then it was Manny Acosta's turn be in Ty Wigginton's highlight reel. Acosta allowed a pair of singles before striking out Victorino, and Wigginton put out to left center, RUINING Jonathan Papelbon's save opportunity. 
Papelbon was already warmed up though, and he had to wait through a pitching change, so Charlie sent him out anyway. 5-8 got the Mets to go down 1-2-3, and it was all barbecue sauce for the visitors. 
NotesAfter the aptly named Justin Turner turned his ankle when caught in a third inning rundown [video here], David Wright had to move over to shortstop in the fourth inning. Turner was himself a fill-in at SS, with Ronny Cedeno already hurt. Wright's inexperience at the position did come into play later, when Polanco grounded to the pitcher, who turned and threw it to Wright as he ran to cover second. It would have been a very close play, but Wright was well in front the bag and never tagged it before throwing to get Polly out at first. Can't see the base, can ya Russ? (Debby Wong, US Presswire)
Wigginton would knock Rollins in after he'd advanced to third, giving the Phils a 5-4 lead. Had it not been for Wigginton's homer in the ninth, that run might have stood up as the winner. Wright also had a throwing error, but that was in the first inning, before he made the move to short. 
He was also 0-4 on the day, plummeting his average to .373. Everyone point and laugh at David Wright!
Chooch, who is third only to Wright and Melky Cabrera in NL batting average, had to sit the afternoon out, scratched with a tight right hammy. You just rest up, Most Valuable Panamanian. 
Hairston has Cole's number. Check out these career stats against him. 
Reuben Frank pointed out that Cole hadn't allowed more than three earned runs since September of 2011, dating back 14 starts, and Brian Schneider also caught him that day. Not going to hang anything on Schneider though, especially the day after he caught Kyle Kendrick's shutout. 
With the Braves losing their eighth in a row, the Phillies are no longer in sole possession of last place in the East. Both clubs are four games back. 
It was a great day for watching baseball, as well as remembering why many of us had the day off today. Spending time with friends and family, relaxing, or yes, even working, are all great ways to respect the ultimate sacrifice of so many US servicemen and women. Thank you to our fallen soldiers, the families they've left behind, and to those currently serving.