Hamels' gem lifts Phillies over Nationals
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Cole Hamels tossed eight scoreless innings and the Philadelphia Phillies avoided getting swept by the Washington Nationals with a 4-1 win in the finale of a three-game set.
The last time Hamels (7-1) faced Washington, he plunked Bryce Harper in the back, later stating that he intended to hit the rookie. That led to a five- game suspension for Hamels, but he didn't let it faze him on Wednesday.
He carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning and remained undefeated since dropping his first start of the season back on April 9. He is now 7-0 over his past nine starts and gave up just four hits with three walks and eight strikeouts in Wednesday's game.
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"He mixes pitches real good and he did it tonight," said Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel. "He had his fastball down and threw his changeup when he needed it."
Shane Victorino hit a solo home run and drove in two, Carlos Ruiz went 3-for-4 with a run scored and Mike Fontenot added two hits, an RBI and a run scored for the Phillies, who snapped a four-game losing streak.
Adam LaRoche hit a solo home run in the ninth to account for the only run for the Nationals, who had won three straight coming in. Edwin Jackson (1-2) gave up three runs on seven hits with two walks and four strikeouts over seven innings.
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"I was just trying to keep us within striking distance," Jackson said.
Hamels walked the leadoff batter in three of the first four innings, but didn't allow a hit until Danny Espinosa punched a double to left with one out in the sixth.
Harper followed with a single to right, but Hunter Pence came up throwing and one-hopped the ball to the plate where Ruiz applied the tag on Espinosa. Ryan Zimmerman followed with a single, but Hamels got LaRoche to ground out.
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The Phils backed up Hamels' effort with runs in the second and third innings.
Ruiz led off the second with a single, but the next two batters recorded outs. Freddy Galvis then singled to keep the inning alive and Fontenot punched a bloop single to right to plate Ruiz.
Pence walked with two outs in the third and Ruiz followed with a single. Victorino then doubled home Pence for a 2-0 advantage.
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After the Nationals went down in order in the seventh, the Phils plated another run in the bottom of the inning. Fontenot led off with a double and moved to third on Hamels' sac bunt. Juan Pierre then laid down a bunt back to the mound with Fontenot breaking for the plate to execute the suicide squeeze for a 3-0 lead.
"We had the right runner and we had the right bunter at that point," said Manuel.
Jesus Flores led off the eighth with a triple, but wound up stranded there. Steve Lombardozzi lofted a fly ball to shallow left that Galvis made a great over-the-shoulder catch on. Espinosa and Harper each grounded out to keep the shutout going.
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Victorino hit a two-out, full count pitch deep over the right field wall in the eighth for a 4-0 lead.
LaRoche's eighth home run of the season in the ninth off of Jonathan Papelbon broke up the shutout.
Game Notes
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Jackson had not factored in a decision over his previous five starts...Hamels improved to 12-4 in 22 career starts against the Nationals...The Nationals have won nine of the last 11 games against the Phillies, including four of six this season...The Phillies begin a four-game set in St. Louis on Thursday...Washington has off on Thursday before traveling to Atlanta to start a three-game set on Friday.