Phillies hang on to beat Brewers

FROM THE MORNING CALL

PHILADELPHIA — At some point, Cole Hamels should be allowed to feel a little sorry for himself, even if it is for just an instant.

Again, the Phillies' left-hander pitched well. And again, his offense left him no breathing room.

The Phillies squeaked out a run in the second inning and hung on to beat the Brewers, 1-0, Friday at Citizens Bank Park.


It marked the 64th time they've scored three runs or fewer this season and the fifth time in Hamels' last six starts that's happened. Despite going 2-3 (one no-decision) since Aug. 7, Hamels posted a 2.22 ERA (17 earned runs, 69.0 innings pitched) during that stretch.

On Friday, he walked three and allowed three hits in seven scoreless innings. Milwaukee didn't get a hit until Casey McGehee singled up the middle with one out in the fifth. But by the end of the fifth, Hamels had still faced the minimum thanks to a pair of double plays (one in the second, one in the fifth).

The game's only run started and ended with Shane Victorino. The six-hole hitter led off the second with a bloop that landed in left-center field and was ruled a double when left fielder Ryan Braun and center fielder Lorenzo Cain couldn't decide who was going to catch it.

Victorino moved to third on Raul Ibanez's ground out to second base. Carlos Ruiz drove him in with an RBI ground out.

The Phillies had a chance to pad their lead when they had the bases loaded with nobody out in the fourth. But Ibanez struck out and Ruiz lined into an inning-ending double play.

Jose Contreras came on in relief and pitched a perfect eighth.

Manager Charlie Manuel hinted before the game that he might not use regular closer Brad Lidge because he had pitched three games in a row.

So he turned to Ryan Madson, who pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his fifth save.

The Phillies now have a 2.5 game lead in the wild card standings (the Giants are a late game) and if the Braves lose (they're trailing the Marlins 6-1 in the seventh), their NL East lead would be down to one game.

http://www.mcall.com/sports/baseball/phillies/mc-philsbrewers-gamer-0903-20100903,0,1629042.story