Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Cole Hamels tossed 7 2/3 scoreless innings, while Jose Contreras, J.C. Romero and Brad Lidge finished off the shutout and Philadelphia's four-game sweep of Cincinnati with another 1-0 decision.
Red Scare: Phillies Sweep Four Game Series From Cincy With 1-0 Win
Hamels (7-7) allowed just six hits and three walks while striking out three. The left-hander was pulled following Joey Votto's two-out double in the eighth, and Contreras retired Jonny Gomes after walking Scott Rolen.
Romero started the ninth and struck out Jay Bruce, and Lidge retired the next two on five pitches to complete the win and record his sixth save.
Jimmy Rollins, who had the game-winning hit in the 11th inning of Saturday's 1-0 triumph, went 2-for-4 and knocked in the only run again, as the Phillies (47-40) recorded their first four-game sweep against the Reds since May 13-15, 1975 at Veterans Stadium.
“To take four from a very, very good team is a good positive,” Hamels said.
Matt Maloney (0-2) came up on the losing end despite a quality start. The former Phillies farmhand yielded one run on four hits and a walk in a six- inning start for the Reds (49-41), who lost the first three games in the set in extra innings but still lead the National League Central going into the All-Star break.
Cincinnati did not score in the final 21 innings in the series.
“It’s definitely frustrating to lose,” Maloney said. “But we played some good ball games.”
Carlos Ruiz led off the third frame with a line drive to left-center, and a fan reached over the fence and interfered with the ball. The play was reviewed by instant replay, and Ruiz was awarded a double and came around to score the game's only run on Rollins' two-out base hit.
Both starters got out of bases-loaded jams in the fourth. Hamels put the first three runners on before getting Gomes on a fielder’s choice groundout and Bruce on a comebacker to the mound that started a double play.
Wilson Valdez grounded out to leave the bags full in the bottom half, but Hamels, who induced three double-plays, got the run he needed to earn his first win since June 13.
The Reds have lost 11 of their last 13 games at Citizens Bank Park...Hamels improved to 6-0 in seven career matchups against the Reds...Maloney was a third-round selection by the Phillies in the 2005 draft but never pitched for the big club...The Phillies were outhit, 6-4...The Phillies come back after the break with a four-game series with the Cubs in Chicago starting Thursday, while Cincinnati hosts the Rockies in a three-game set beginning Friday...It was the first time since the 1913 season the Phillies recorded consecutive 1-0 victories.
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