Friday, July 25, 2014
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Hamels handles Giants in Phillies' 2-1 win

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[July 25, 2014]  PHILADELPHIA -- In a season that will likely be one to forget for the Philadelphia Phillies, Cole Hamels is having one to remember.

In the meantime, he's also helping the moribund Phillies pick up a few wins among the pile of losses.

The left-hander played stopper once again Thursday afternoon, pitching Philadelphia to a 2-1 win over the San Francisco Giants at Citizens Bank Park.

"He's really been consistent," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. "He's pitched like an ace."

Hamels (5-5) stymied the first-place Giants with eight innings of one-run ball, striking out 10 to help Philadelphia avoid a four-game sweep. Since June 1, he has a 1.75 ERA, 81 strikeouts and 24 walks.

Hamels was in complete control and the Phillies needed it.

"In losing the past three games, you just want to go out there and win," said Hamels, who was reaching 95 mph with his fastball to augment his offspeed pitches. "Everything was coming out the right way. I wasn't having to put as much effort into each pitch. Just the way I was in sync. Everything kind of fired out and I guess it showed on the radar gun."

Closer Jonathan Papelbon threw a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his 24th save.
 


The last-place Phillies (44-58) have won just two of their last nine games -- both 2-1 victories in which Hamels was the winning pitcher. The Giants (57-45) went 5-2 on their seven-game road trip to open the second half of the season with a pivotal series with the Los Angeles Dodgers (56-47) ahead.

San Francisco leads its division rival in the NL West by 1 1/2 games.

"We need to head home feeling good about this road trip," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "We've got a big series ahead of us.

"It's going to be a good, exciting series -- it's what you play for."

San Francisco starter Tim Hudson (8-7) gave the Giants an opportunity to come home riding a four-game sweep. The veteran right-hander gaveup two unearned runs in six innings.

"You're hoping your guy gives you a chance, and that's what (Hudson) did -- he pitched great," Bochy said. "We had a couple chances there, but we couldn't get another run for him."

Left fielder Michael Morse dropped a shallow fly ball to start the bottom of the fifth inning, which resulted in the game's decisive run. However, Hudson blamed himself for the other mistake when he crossed up catcher Buster Posey in the first inning, allowing shortstop Jimmy Rollins to advance from second to third and eventually score on a single by right fielder Marlon Byrd.

"We tried to be creative and mix things up. It wasn't one of my prouder moments, but I crossed him up in the first inning and it essentially cost us a run," Hudson said. "I forgot that we changed our signs."

Philadelphia took advantage of the two San Francisco blunders, and that was all Hamels needed.

"He was clearly on top of his game today. I've seen him throw some really good games throughout his career," said Hudson, who played in the NL East for nine seasons. "Today wasn't an easy day in the park for us. I don't ever recall his fastball being as good as it was today. His fastball had some juice on it and his offspeed was as good as I've seen it."

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The Phillies pushed across a run in the bottom of the first inning on Byrd's RBI single.

The Giants got to Hamels in the top of the fifth inning to knot the score. Second baseman Ehire Adrianza delivered a two-out base hit up the middle to score center fielder Gregor Blanco, who singled to lead off the inning.

Second baseman Chase Utley quickly snatched the lead back with an RBI single of his own in the bottom of the fifth inning, restoring Philadelphia's one-run lead. Center fielder Ben Revere scored after reaching second base on Morse's error.

"He's a guy that's done a pretty good job out there," Bochy said of Morse. "He made a long run for that ball and just couldn't quite hold onto it. I've been happy with what he's done in left field."

The Giants threatened in the top of the fourth inning against Hamels. San Francisco loaded the bases with two outs after Utley airmailed a throw to first on a potential inning-ending double-play ground ball. Hamels, however, saw his way out of the jam by getting shortstop Joaquin Arias to ground out.

After the fifth-inning runs, it was all Hamels.

"It really seemed like he turned it up a notch," Sandberg said. "He's on top of his game."

NOTES: Phillies 1B Ryan Howard was out of the starting lineup for the second consecutive game. Manager Ryne Sandberg wants 1B Darin Ruf, who was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday, to get some work at the position, especially given the struggles of Howard this season. "It's still early in the process," Sandberg said of the team's situation at first base. "We wanted to see (Ruf) play for a couple of games, get him some at-bats and basically go from there. We'll continue to watch." ... Giants 2B Ehire Adrianza left the game before the bottom of the seventh inning because of a right hamstring strain, according to manager Bruce Bochy. Adrianza will be evaluated on Friday. ... Philles RHP Jonathan Papelbon's save was career No. 310, tying Hall of Famer Goose Gossage for 21st place all time. ... The Giants head home to face the Los Angeles Dodgers for three games. The Dodgers are in second place in the NL West, 1 1/2 games behind the Giants. ... The Phillies welcome the Arizona Diamondbacks for three games at Citizens Bank Park this weekend before starting a seven-game road trip.

[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

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