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Hamels dazzles as Phillies clip Padres

Aug 18, 2008 - 3:51 AM By Tim Powers PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- Cole Hamels threw a gem in his hometown and the Philadelphia Phillies provided just enough run support to earn a 2-1 victory over the San Diego Padres on Sunday.

Pat Burrell homered for the second time in the series and Jimmy Rollins scored a run to help the Phillies win the rubber game of the three-game set after suffering a four-game sweep by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Hamels (10-8), a San Diego native, allowed one run on seven hits over eight innings to snap a stretch of seven winless outings, the longest of the 24-year-old lefthander's career. He struck out three and did not issue a walk.

"That's just baseball, you can't expect to go out there and win every time," Hamels said. "We were able to come through today, and it definitely means a lot just getting a win, but it also means a lot finally getting a win in San Diego."

Brad Lidge worked around a walk to strike out the side in the ninth and remain perfect in his 30 save chances this season.

"(Hamels) threw strikes, and he had good command of his fastball," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "He threw a lot of strikes and he did a tremendous job. He's due to win one, because he keeps pitching real good ballgames. This guy has had some tough luck getting wins."

Rollins led off the game with an infield single and advanced to third on a stolen base and throwing error to set up a sacrifice fly by Jayson Werth that gave the Phillies an early 1-0 lead.

San Diego starter Cha Seung Baek matched Hamels from there, tossing scoreless frames until the sixth when Burrell belted a 2-1 offering into the left field seats for a 2-0 advantage.

Kevin Kouzmanoff, Adrian Gonzalez and Chase Headley strung together consecutive singles in the bottom of the frame to push across a run and halve the deficit at 2-1, but Hamels was otherwise stingy as the Padres mounted no other serious scoring chances.

"(Hamels) is a good one, one of the best in the league," Padres manager Bud Black said. "It's one of the best (changeups) if not the best. He used it very effectively today. He's the type of guy that if he's throwing strikes, he just gets you in between. We couldn't break through."

"Being able to just throw strikes (helped)," Hamels said. "This is a team where, if you're able to out-think them, you can get away with six-pitch and 10-pitch innings and go deep into the game. I was able to keep the ball just outside of their swing paths and they hit them to our players."

Baek (4-7) surrendered two runs - one earned - over six innings and is still seeking his first win at Petco Park, having lost all seven outings at home since coming to San Diego in May via a trade with Seattle. The 28-year-old South Korean righthander struck out five and walked two.

"(Baek) hung in there," Black said. "He handled their lineup very well. That was the best changeup he's had all year and kept their lefties neutralized. The one slider that didn't quite get away from Burrell obviously cost him. Hamels just did a little bit better."

Adrian Gonzalez collected two hits on the night for the Padres, who have lost nine consecutive series at home.