The Phillies avoided a sweep as they held off the San Francisco Giants, 2-1, behind Cole Hamels on Thursday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park.
Hamels spun a gem in his second straight win -– both by a score of 2-1.
The Phillies lost the first three games of the series. They avoided being swept in two four-game series at home in the same season for the first time since 1972. They were swept at home by Atlanta earlier this season.
The Phils are 44-58.
Starting pitching report
Hamels went eight innings and allowed six hits and a run. He walked one and struck out 10. He has 19 strikeouts in his last two starts and just one walk.
Hamels (5-5) had a terrific fastball, reaching 95 mph.
MLB
San Francisco’s Tim Hudson (8-7) was not supported by good defense. Both of the runs he allowed in six innings were unearned. He allowed two hits, walked two and struck out eight.
Bullpen report
Jonathan Papelbon, who had blown a save and gotten a loss the previous two nights, pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his 24th save. Papelbon answered the bell after throwing 55 pitches the previous two nights.
Papelbon tied Goose Gossage for 21st on the all-time saves list with his 310th save.
At the plate
Jimmy Rollins doubled in the first inning, moved up on a passed ball and scored on a base hit by Marlon Byrd.
Chase Utley drove in the Phillies’ second run with a single two batters after Ben Revere reached on a two-base error by Giants leftfielder Michael Morse.
After torching the Phils for seven hits and six RBIs in the first three games, Hunter Pence struck out three times against Hamels. It was the first time Pence had struck out three times against the same pitcher in a game this season. The last time he did that he was a Phillie in 2012.
Second baseman Ehire Adrianza knocked in the Giants’ run with a fifth inning single.
Howard benched
Ryan Howard sat out for the second day in a row and manager Ryne Sandberg said a platoon could be coming. Details here.
Up next
The Phillies host the similarly bad Arizona Diamondbacks for three games beginning Friday night. Here are the pitching matchups:
Friday night –- RH Kyle Kendrick (4-10, 4.87) vs. LH Wade Miley (6-6, 4.16)
Saturday night –- LH Cliff Lee (4-5, 3.67) vs. RH Josh Collmenter (8-5, 3.64)
Sunday afternoon –- RH Roberto Hernandez (4-8, 4.25) vs. LH Vidal Nuno (0-1, 3.78)