Cole Hamels leaves ballpark for birth of first child

Phillies fans would normally start fretting if Cole Hamels(notes) left the ballpark for the hospital after only pitching five innings of four-run, seven-hit ball.But that wasn't the case today. Shortly after being given the hook in Thursday's NLDS Game 2 against Colorado, Hamels left Citizens Bank Park and went to be with his wife, Heidi, who had gone into labor with the couple's first child. Hamels told TV announcers before the game that he was on call should Heidi start delivery. And once the game started, it seemed as if Hamels mind was elsewhere. He allowed a run in the first inning, a two-run home run to Yorvit Torrealba(notes) in the fourth and an additional run in the fifth. He was lifted in the bottom of the inning for pinch hitter Greg Dobbs(notes).Hamels' departure was announced a short-time later, but it appeared he left the game because of his pitching performance, not because of the baby.More to come ...