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Hill outduels Hamels and ends Phils' winning streak

Apr 26, 2007 - 11:38 PM PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- Shawn Hill wasn't intimidated by Cole Hamels.

Hill continued his solid season with eight-plus stellar innings as the Washington Nationals snapped the Philadelphia Phillies' five-game winning streak with a 4-2 victory in the finale of a three-game series.

Dmitri Young homered and Ryan Church drove in two runs for the Nationals, who withstood a ninth-inning rally to snap a four-game losing streak.

Coming off a 15-strikeout performance against the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday, Hamels started strong against Washington but showed he is just a mere mortal.

"The game he pitched in Cincinnati was a gem," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "You don't have those kind of games every time you go out."

The lefthander struck out Josh Wilson to start the contest and yielded just one baserunner through three innings before the Nationals finally broke through.

Young hit his third homer of the season to right field with two outs in the fourth to open the scoring, and the Nationals knocked out the young phenom in the sixth.

Ronnie Belliard and Ryan Zimmerman opened with singles and advanced on a wild pitch. After Austin Kearns was walked intentionally, Church blooped a two-run single to left for a 3-0 edge.

"It felt good to come through right there," Church said. "They put 'Kearnsie' on to get to me, thinking they could strike me out or get me to hit into a double-play ball."

After a walk to Mike Restovich reloaded the bases, Brian Schneider worked an eight-pitch walk to plate a fourth run and end Hamels' day.

"We put together some quality at-bats against a tough pitcher," Nationals manager Manny Acta said.

Hamels was tagged for four runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings.

"I got into a few (deep) counts that I didn't have the whole first five innings," Hamels said. "In doing that, when guys got on, I got a little bit more antsy and tried to pump it up and blow pitches by guys. So I was rushing a little bit on my mechanics and that screwed me up."

Against Cincinnati, Hamels, at 23 years and 115 days, became the youngest major leaguer to strike out 15 batters since Chicago Cubs righthander Kerry Wood struck out 20 Houston Astros on May 6, 1998 at the age of 20 years, 324 days.

"When you see somebody pitch like he did in Cincinnati, you start thinking he's gonna throw the same game," Manuel said. "He will throw some more of those games. He's very capable of throwing them."

He also became the youngest Phillie since Art Mahaffey on April 23, 1961 to fan 15 or more in a game. Mahaffey struck out 17 Chicago Cubs in a six-hit shutout at the age of 22 years, 323 days.

Despite just one win in his first four starts, Hill has pitched well for the Nationals and outpitched Hamels on this day.

"A terrific performance (by Hill), especially after we were beaten in the first two games," Acta said.

The 25-year-old Canadian allowed two runs and four hits in a Nationals' season-high eight-plus innings and got 14 ground-ball outs.

"I had a lot of movement on my fastball today and they were beating it into the ground," Hill said.

He had his bid for a first career shutout ended when Aaron Rowand drilled his third homer against the Nationals to lead off the eighth, extending his hitting streak to 14 games.

"It was a fastball down the middle," Hill said. "I wanted it away. Just a bad pitch."

Hill's first career complete-game bid ended in the ninth, when he walked Shane Victorino to lead off the ninth and departed.

"(Acta) asked me how I felt and I told him I was good to go," Hill said. "I was disappointed that I walked (Victorino).

"We needed the win. I wanted to give the bullpen a rest."

Closer Chad Cordero entered and allowed a one-out double to Ryan Howard before Pat Burrell delivered a sacrifice fly. But he regrouped and struck out Wes Helms for his second save.

Hill had yielded exactly two earned runs in each of his starts and entered with a solid 2.92 ERA.

In his last start, he left after six innings with a 5-2 lead at Florida but the bullpen could not hold it. Hill left that contest with a strained left shoulder sustained while diving back into third base.

"The shoulder is a little tight and a little tired, but no big deal," Hill said.

"All we need from him is to stay healthy," Acta said.

Last July 11, the righthander tossed seven scoreless innings, allowing two hits and three walks in a win over Philadelphia.