Cole Hamels Admits to Purposely Hitting Bryce Harper

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels admitted to purposely plunking Nations wunderkind Bryce Harper during a game between the two teams on Sunday.

Hamels drilled Harper in the back during the first inning and had no problem coping to it after the game.

I was trying to hit him, Hamels told the Philadelphia Inquirer. I'm not going to deny it. It's something I grew up watching. That's what happened. I'm just trying to continue the old baseball. Some people get away from it.

Hamels admitting beaning Harper is a throwback to the old school nature of baseball, but he may face a penalty for his honesty. Major League Baseball could suspend Hamels for drilling Harper, potentially as many as five games.

The Phillies pitcher said that he wasn't purposely trying to injure Harper, which makes sense given that he aimed for his back, but the MLB still doesn't take kindly to purposely drilling players and then coming clean about it later.

Harper for his part seemed to return the favor when he stole home base on Hamels.

I think he kind of did that for me, Hamels said.

The Phillies ended up with the last laugh, though, when they defeated the Nationals 9-3 on Sunday night.