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Hamels solid as Phillies beat Reds

Apr 7, 2008 - 9:22 PM By David Harding PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

CINCINNATI (Ticker) - The Philadelphia Phillies finally got the stellar pitching performance they were looking for.

Cole Hamels hurled seven solid innings, Tom Gordon pitched a perfect eighth and Brad Lidge closed out a 5-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Monday in the finale of a four-game series.

The Phillies entered the contest allowing just under six runs per game this season.

"The bullpen held together right today," Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel said. "But that's what happens when you get seven innings (from your starter)."

After Hamels (1-1) got off to a shaky start by giving up two first-inning runs, he settled down. The lefthander gave up just those two runs and five hits and three walks, striking out four.

"It's a problem I guess I have," Hamels said. "The first inning is probably the hardest one. I have to control my energy that I have going into the game, and I have to play smart."

Hamels received no run support in his first outing as the Phillies dropped a 1-0 decision to the Washington Nationals on Wednesday. But Jimmy Rollins set the tone early for the Phillies as he led off the game with his 27th career leadoff home run to give Philadelphia a 1-0 lead.

Later in that inning, Pat Burrell hit his first of two home runs off Reds starter Bronson Arroyo, a two-run blast, to give the Phillies a 3-0 lead.

"He's hot," said Manuel of Burrell. "He's got good timing, he's waiting on the ball real good and he's getting good balls to hit."

The Reds battled back in the bottom half of the first against Hamels, scoring two runs on Brandon Phillips' ground out and a single by Jeff Keppinger.

Geoff Jenkins followed Burrell's third-inning homer with his a solo shot of his own to put Philadelphia up 5-2.

"We're starting to swing the bats like we're capable, and that takes a lot of pressure off our pitchers," Burrell said. "Hopefully we can continue to do this."

Lidge earned his first save for the Phillies after a few tense moments in the ninth.

Paul Bako walked, Corey Patterson reached on an error by left fielder So Taguchi and pinch hitter Ken Griffey Jr. was intentionally walked to load the bases.

Bako scored on a wild pitch to make the score 5-3, but Lidge struck out pinch hitter Javier Valentin looking to end the game.

Arroyo (0-1) allowed five runs in 5 2/3 innings and nine hits - four home runs. He struck out six and did not walk a batter.

"I felt OK," Arroyo said. "Not great, not horrible, just all right. I'm not really pleased - kind of middle of the road. I need to get a little sharper. I'm not really crisp enough to put people away."