newjerseynewsroom.com

The Phillies’ Cole Hamels hit Nationals rookie Bryce Harper with a pitch — just because.

Hamels didn’t deny it was a purpose pitch that nailed the 19-year-old in the small of the back during Philadelphia’s 9-3 victory in Washington on Saturday night.

“I was trying to hit him,” Hamels said afterward, as was reported by the Associated Press. “I’m not going to deny it. It’s just: Welcome to the big leagues.”

The pitch in question came with two outs and none on in the last of the first. Harper then took third on a single and, when Hamels got the sign to throw over to first, Harper bolted for home and scored.

“I think he kind of did that for me,” Hamels said of the steal of home.

Hamels said he drilled Harper because it’s part of the game.

"That's something I grew up watching, that's kind of what happened,” Hamels said. “So I'm just trying to continue the old baseball because I think some people are kind of getting away from it.

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

Whatever. The southpaw will possibly face a suspension over his comments.

Nationals starter Jordan Zimmerman retaliated in the third inning, when he hit Hamels in the left leg after Hamels squared to bunt. Plate umpire Andy Fletcher then issued a warning against further retaliation.

Harper’s reaction: “Hamels threw a great game tonight.”

Hamels did have some nice things to say about the rookie.

“He’s got a lot of talent,” Hamels said of Harper after the game, in a taped interview that appeared on the Wilmington News Journal website. “A lot of energy. He went first to third, stole home, later stretched a single into a double. If he keeps continuing to do that he’s going to make a really good name for himself.”

--JOE GREENE, NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM