Hamels dug deep to end L.A. threat in 7th

LOS ANGELES - The warning light on Cole Hamels' gas gauge was on. He was in the midst of an arduous 26-pitch seventh inning. There were two men on base and the Los Angeles Dodgers were threatening. Former National League MVP Jeff Kent was at the plate.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel went to the mound and looked Hamels in the eye. Ryan Madson was ready in the bullpen, but Manuel stuck with Hamels.

In the fifth inning, Hamels had struck out Kent on a change-up. This time, the count went to 2-2 and Hamels reached back for everything he had left. His 104th and final pitch of the night was a dart, a 94-m.p.h. fastball, over the plate. Kent thought it was low. Home plate umpire Mike Winters called it a strike.

The biggest out of Hamels' life helped the Phils win the clinching Game 5 of the National League Championship Series, 5-1, last night. Now Hamels gets ready to start Game 1 of the World Series.

Big ball

Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley had Rollins 0-2 but let him get away. Rollins worked the count full and hit a high, 3-2 fastball into the right-field pavilion. (That's SoCal for bleachers.)

Small ball