Washington: Cole Hamels made an impressive debut for the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday, striking out nine and getting his first hit since 2016 in a 9-2 victory over the Pirates in Pittsburgh.
The left-handed pitcher, acquired on Friday from the Texas Rangers for two pitchers and a player to be named later or cash, surrendered three hits and walked two in five innings.
Hamels had a four-run cushion before he even threw his first pitch as the Cubs pounced on Pirates starting pitcher Nick Kingham — and capitalised on two Pittsburgh errors — in the first inning.
Hamels, who hadn’t pitched since July 23, was pulled after throwing 95 pitches.
He displayed a 94mph (151 Km/h) and an effective changeup, and Cubs manager Joe Maddon voiced the hope that despite his recent struggles for the Rangers, Hamels will bring to Chicago the kind of form that saw him help the Philadelphia Phillies beat Maddon’s Tampa Bay Rays in the 2008 World Series.
“He can be a tremendous difference maker for us,” Maddon said.
