PITTSBURGH - It was the debut the Chicago Cubs were hoping for: Four time all-star Cole Hamels dazzled with his changeup on the way to a five-inning, nine-strikeout performance in the Cubs' 9-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday. It helped that the Cubs offense staked him to an early, 4-0 lead.
"S---, four runs in the first inning and I hadn't even thrown a pitch yet," a smiling Hamels said after the win. "That's an incredible experience right there."
Hamels actually batted before he threw a pitch for his new team, but when he did take the mound, his pedigree emerged.