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Phils, Giants continue heated affair

Aug 6, 2011 - 3:39 PM (Sports Network) - Today's pitching matchup of Philadelphia's Cole Hamels and San Francisco's Matt Cain was the expected focus of this afternoon's battle between the top two teams in the National League. Instead, all eyes will be on the demeanor of the Phillies and Giants after last night's benches-clearing incident that took place in the sixth inning.

John Mayberry, Hunter Pence and Shane Victorino all homered and Vance Worley threw seven strong innings Friday night to lead the Phillies to a 9-2 win.

While no apparent punches were thrown, the teams came together in a spat after Giants reliever Ramon Ramirez hit Victorino with a pitch -- seemingly on purpose -- in the lower back.

"I had no intention of going out there and charging the mound. I just wanted to know why in that situation (he hit me)," said Victorino. "He was around the plate all night and throughout that inning and all of a sudden with two outs I get up to the plate and first pitch is at my back. I just wanted to go out there and get an answer. I had no intentions of charging the mound."

The teams also emptied their benches in Game 6 of last year's National League Championship Series soon after Giants starter Jonathan Sanchez plunked Chase Utley. Utley was able to grab the loose ball that hit him in the back and chucked it back at Sanchez on the mound.

Sanchez started this one as well, but was outdueled by Worley (8-1), who allowed two runs on seven hits with six strikeouts to remain unbeaten in his last nine outings.

The Phillies won their season-high eighth straight game with a 13-hit barrage, picking mostly on Sanchez (4-6) in his first start since June 24.

Gone long before the benches cleared, the San Francisco starter, who had been sidelined with left biceps tendinitis, took the loss after giving up five runs on seven hits and just 4 2/3 innings.

The Giants remained a half-game ahead of Arizona for first place in the NL West, but they are barely clinging to the lead. They fell to 1-7 in their last eight games and 1-4 on a 10-game homestand.

Hamels has been rock solid for the NL East leaders, allowing two runs or less in all but one of his last 13 starts. Included in that was a 2-1 loss to the Giants and Cain on July 27 in Philadelphia. Hamels is 4-3 with a 4.38 ERA in nine career regular season starts against the Giants.

Cain struggled in his most recent appearance, giving up eight hits and five runs over 5 2/3 innings in a loss to the Diamondbacks on Monday. He's 1-3 with a 4.91 ERA in six career regular season outings vs. Philadelphia.