2003 Hall of Fame Game

Led by minor league phenom Cole Hamels, the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 7-5 in the 57th Hall of Fame Game on June 16, 2003, at Doubleday Field.

Hamels pitched five innings after relieving starter Brandon Duckworth in the second frame. The Class A southpaw allowed three runs – two of which were earned – on three hits and struck out a game-high nine batters while walking just one en route to Hall of Fame Game Most Valuable Player honors. Less than three years later – on May 12, 2006 – Hamels made his big league debut for the Phillies.

Tampa Bay struck first as Aubrey Huff hit an RBI single to give the Devil Rays an early one-run lead. The Phillies responded with a Jimmy Rollins RBI single in the bottom half of the first inning to tie the score.

In the second, Pete LaForest reached on a fielder’s choice and crossed the plate on an error for Tampa Bay’s second run.

Four runs in the bottom of the second gave Philadelphia its first lead of the game. After Jason Michaels led off the inning with a single to center, Marlon Byrd hit a two-run home run. Nick Punto tripled to right field to continue the rally and scored when Ricky Ledee grounded out. Tomás Pérez scored the final run of the inning on a home run to right field.

The Devil Rays pulled within one after Rey Ordóñez collected a two-run single off of Hamels in the top of the fifth and tied it when Antonio Pérez hit a solo shot in the seventh.

But it was Pat Burrell’s opposite-field homer in the bottom of the seventh frame that decided the outcome of the game. Burrell’s go-ahead shot came with one out in the inning.

Punto added another solo blast in the eighth to secure the win.

Carl Crawford was the only Tampa Bay player with two hits, and Crawford also scored two runs. Ordóñez had two of the team’s four RBI.

Chad Gaudin picked up the loss after giving up the home run to Burrell. Tampa Bay starter Doug Waetcher allowed five runs on eight hits in his three innings pitched.

Philadelphia’s 12 hits were scattered among 10 different players, with Punto and Jason Michaels recording multi-hit games. Michaels also led the team with two RBI.

The 2003 Hall of Fame Game marked the official move of the contest away from Hall of Fame Weekend.