If there's any kind of symmetry to the baseball universe, the Padres will beat the Phillies on Friday night at PETCO Park. Let me tell you why.
On August 17, 2008, San Diego native Cole Hamels beat the Padres 2-1 in the East Village. It was the beginning of Philly's downtown winning streak, which has now reached 12 games (a Philadelphia franchise record for consecutive wins in an opponent's ballpark).
On Friday, Hamels is on the mound again. Just like the Red Sox had to beat the Yankees in the 2004 ALCS to exorcise the ghost of Babe Ruth, the Padres just might have to beat the man who started their misery in order to end it.
Nobody on the Padres' current roster was on the team when San Diego last beat Philadelphia. Back in 2008, Chad Reineke beat Kyle Kendrick 8-3, thanks to a 4-RBI night from Brian Giles.
Friday, Edinson Volquez will try to beat Hamels. He's the perfect man for the job. Volquez has made two career starts against the Phillies. He's won them both, allowing just 1 run. Oh, and both of those starts came in 2008.
There's that symmetry thing again.
