Cole fire: Hamels makes healthy sales pitch to 29 possible employers in Cubs’ 8-6 victory against Cardinals

ST. LOUIS — He was expected to go maybe three innings. But Cubs left-hander Cole Hamels’ free-agency pitch went well enough Saturday that he got the floor for four innings to deliver his message loud and clear: He’s healthy again, and his résumé is updated.

‘‘But also for other teams to know that I’m not the type of player that’s on the regression, that this is what they’re going to expect,’’ Hamels said. ‘‘More of what I was able to do in the first half is the type of player that I am.’’

Hamels, 35, will become a free agent for the first time in his career this offseason after pitching through a rough second half (1-4, 5.52 ERA) once he returned in August from an oblique injury. He was 6-3 with a 2.98 ERA in the first half.

His return after a skipped start (shoulder fatigue) was all about proving his health and effectiveness for scouts. And he might not have been able to pick a better opponent.

‘‘I enjoyed my time here, and I’d like to continue it,’’ Hamels said. ‘‘Obviously, I do very well at Wrigley. I hope that’s a consideration. Otherwise, I know the other teams in the division are going to think about it. I mean, if you have to come to Wrigley three different times, I don’t pitch bad there.’’

Hamels is 7-4 with a 2.25 ERA in 25 career appearances at Wrigley Field, including a 2015 no-hitter for the Phillies against the Cubs. He also has a 1.80 ERA in 10 career starts at Busch Stadium after his four scoreless innings Saturday. His ERA is 0.92 in seven starts in Pittsburgh, 2.84 in nine starts in Cincinnati and 4.11 in 10 starts in Milwaukee.

‘‘I know I do very well in the NL Central,’’ he said.

On Saturday, he allowed two hits, struck out eight, walked none and threw a pitch that grazed Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina on the arm leading off the second. That appeared to outrage Molina, who yapped at Hamels, eventually provoking Hamels to storm off the mound toward him.

The benches and bullpens emptied just long enough for the combatants to calm down. Hamels retired the next three batters.

‘‘I just wish there was a little more at stake for us,’’ Hamels said.

Salt in their wound

Closer Craig Kimbrel, who spent two stretches on the injured list late in the season, was shut down once the Cubs were eliminated from playoff contention. In the team’s first save chance since then, Brandon Kintzler earned his first save of the season in the Cubs’ 8-6 victory.

‘‘It was fun; I’ll remember that one for a long time,’’ said Kintzler, a former All-Star closer, who wagged his finger at the Cardinals upon recording the final out. ‘‘I didn’t get to pitch against them last week [in a Cardinals sweep]. Just let them know that probably wouldn’t have happened, I felt like, if I was going to pitch. And I just liked they weren’t going to celebrate tonight.’’