Cole Hamels Admits To Hitting Bryce Harper With A Pitch In Phillies-Nationals Game (VIDEO)

Washington Nationals' batter Bryce Harper is hit by the pitch thrown by Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels on Sunday, May 6, 2012.

WASHINGTON -- Cole Hamels admits it: He plunked rookie phenom Bryce Harper on purpose.

"I was trying to hit him," the Philadelphia lefty said. "I'm not going to deny it."

That startling bit of honesty came after Hamels nailed the Washington teen with a fastball in the small of the back his first time up during the Phillies' 9-3 win Sunday night. The candid remark is also certain to cost Hamels a suspension from Major League Baseball.

Harper came up with two outs in the first inning and Hamels promptly drilled the 19-year-old.

Why, exactly?

"That's something I grew up watching, that's kind of what happened. So I'm just trying to continue the old baseball because I think some people are kind of getting away from it. I remember when I was a rookie the strike zone was really, really small and you didn't say anything because that's the way baseball is," Hamels said.

"But I think unfortunately the league's protecting certain players and making it not that old-school, prestigious way of baseball," he said.

In other words, Hamels said, "It's just, `Welcome to the big leagues.'"

Harper quickly evened the score with Hamels. After taking third on a single, Harper broke for the plate when Hamels made a pickoff throw to first. Harper stole home, sliding in safely for the first swipe of his eight-game big league career.

"I think he kind of did that for me," Hamels said.

Harper brushed off Hamels' comments on the purpose pitch.

"Hamels threw a great game tonight," he said.

In the third inning, Washington starter Jordan Zimmermann hit Hamels in the left leg with one out and a runner on first when the Phillies pitcher squared to bunt. Home plate umpire Andy Fletcher warned both dugouts.

Loading Slideshow

• First MLB Hit - April 28, 2012

• Rocket Throw From Left Field - April 28, 2012

• Leaping Catch - April 29, 2012

  Bryce Harper makes a spectacular leaping catch in the fourth inning, crashing into the wall to take extra bases away from Juan Uribe.

• Softball With The Fans - April 30, 2012

  On his first night off in the big leagues, Harper joins fans in a friendly D.C. softball game.

• Moving Up In The Order - May 1, 2012

  Harper drove in the game-winning run with a sixth-inning double laced to left field on his first night batting third in the order. The Nationals beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 2-1.

• Rocket Throw From Left (Again) - May 1, 2012

  On a sac fly, Harper rifles another throw from left that meets a questionable call at the plate.

• Barehanded Catch - May 2, 2012

  Harper snags Jason Kubel's fly ball to center in the sixth by making a tumbling barehanded grab with just three fingers.

• Rally Starter - May 2, 2012

  Harper went 3 for 4 with two doubles, including one leading off the bottom of the ninth to set up a game-ending two-run home run.

• Stealing Home - May 6, 2012

  Bryce Harper picked up his first career stolen base by stealing home against Cole Hamels and the Phillies.

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Comments

[wolfpeace]

04:21 PM on 05/08/2012

I meant any time lost by Harper

[wolfpeace]

04:19 PM on 05/08/2012

Punishment should be:

1. suspension for any lost time for Hamels
2. and 3 rotation suspension plus one, as he was not ejected.
3. no All Star game
4. no awards (example: Cy Young) for year

If this was the usual punishment no pitcher would purposely throw at a batter.

[Nishu]

01:17 AM on 05/08/2012

Check out the purpose why Cole Hamels hits Nationals' Bryce Harper! http://liveoncampus.com/wire/show/3376397

[pappy316]

11:40 PM on 05/07/2012

Ahhhahaha, "Harpers stole home"! Way to go Hamels, you're really showing the rookies how it's done (embarrassing). Way to put him on base!

[Ken Blackwell]

10:58 PM on 05/07/2012

payback was a bigdog-Hamels the whole world saw this kid make you into a fool, they laughed at Cole the league is laughing you got punked

[Tex-cal Whitney]

08:13 PM on 05/07/2012

To quote Vince Lombardi, " What the hell's goin' on around here?" Folks, this is baseball, a game played by grown men for our entertainment. Hamels did not throw at Harper's head, hands or his knees which could lead to career threatening injuries. Harper was smart enough to drop his bat and take his base. Later in the inning Harper made Hamels pay for putting him on base by scoring a run via a stealing home. Stealing home is not nearly as common an occurrence as a hit batsmen so in the battle between Hamel and Harper, the first victory would have to go to Harper even though the Phillies won the game.

[pappy316]

11:57 PM on 05/07/2012

Made Hamels look like a complete bum more like. If you're going to hit a man with a fastball on purpose, you better make sure you're a good enough pitcher to end the inning. How embarrassing it must be for this pitcher trying to teach a rookie a lesson and ends up having home base stolen from him. To add insult to injury, he'll probably get a suspension... Really taught that kid a lesson... Or maybe the kid taught him a lesson in humility.

[dmg888]

07:51 PM on 05/07/2012

Ignorant often can not be repaired

[NYC123]

07:50 PM on 05/07/2012

Oh please - that is done in baseball all the time.......No one ever admits to it!

[pappy316]

12:00 AM on 05/08/2012

Yeah, you would have to be really stupid to admit to throwing at someone like that.

[hopniceguy]

07:47 PM on 05/07/2012

I think that this should be called malicious wounding. Cole should be sued. What if he really got hurt. If a pitcher is not good enough to get a batter out and deliberate throws at him baseball should ban him.

[wurkinman1]

07:44 PM on 05/07/2012

Cole..??????? u r such an idiot

[AGammaRaye]

07:33 PM on 05/07/2012

So...I'm reading "its baseball...no big deal" yadda yadda...I don't think that's good enough and the pitcher's attitude is just tacky....he obviously is immature....

[grnegz77]

07:59 PM on 05/07/2012

He plays baseball for a living, and you expect maturity?

[AGammaRaye]

05:52 PM on 05/08/2012

its akin to the old "dyslexic" excuse--they only seem to be of diminshed capacity when its the other guy at issue...

[vaclec]

07:33 PM on 05/07/2012

Bryan: Thank you for establishing yourself as an 'expert'. From the 'portrait' of yourself you are one narcissist. Have another beer Bryan! How far did you get in baseball?

[gtgr68]

07:28 PM on 05/07/2012

Hamels should be suspended for the rest of the season and the Phillies required to forfeit the game.

[jbiggs01]

07:24 PM on 05/07/2012

and everyones mad at the saints? a 90 mile an hour fastball can kill

[lookskyward]

07:23 PM on 05/07/2012

Well isn't that what it's all about. Win at any cost. It's not how you play the game.
As Charlie Sheen said "WINNING!"