So he threw a changeup. Escobar whiffed.
Hamels walked off the mound with seven more scoreless innings and a 3.18 ERA in 2010 - which ranks 16th in the National League. And he might be the third-best pitcher on his own staff.
With all of the attention on the two Roys (and rightfully so), Hamels is penning a spectacular season. The win-loss record won't show it, but Hamels cannot be blamed for the lack of offensive support he's seen.
Friday was the same story. Twice this season, Hamels has lost 1-0 games. Now he has won two 1-0 games. The lefthander now has an 18-inning scoreless streak.
This time, he had help from the bullpen in protecting a tight lead.
Wanting to give Brad Lidge a day off (much like he intentionally avoided Ryan Madson on Thursday), Charlie Manuel had Jose Contreras and Madson finish off the game. Lidge had pitched in three straight games and five of the last seven.
Contreras, the hulking righthander who Manuel affectionately calls "Big Truck," threw three straight balls to the first batter he faced, Jonathan Lucroy. But he threw strike one and then induced a ground out to short.
Pinch-hitter Joe Inglett struck out on four pitches and after starting Rickie Weeks off with three consecutive balls, he too struck out swinging on a 94 m.p.h. fastball.
Madson, who earned his first save since April 24, was sharp after a day off. His velocity dipped Wednesday in Los Angeles when he was used for the fifth time in six days. On Friday, he hovered in the mid-90s and hit 96 m.p.h. with a fastball.
He needed just 11 pitches to retire the side in order - but not before a deep fly ball to center that Shane Victorino ran down. The crowd exhaled, and the Phillies stormed on the field to celebrate a still-perfect September.
Hamels was the big reason why Friday. Since the all-star break, the lefthander has made 11 starts. The Phillies are just 7-4 in those games, but Hamels has a 2.00 ERA. Once again Friday, he pitched on a tightrope without any offensive support.
In the first four innings, Hamels threw 47 pitches. He didn't allow a hit until the fifth, when Casey McGehee softly singled up the middle. He was erased on a 5-4-3 double play, and Hamels had faced the minimum through five.
He allowed the first two batters to reach base in the seventh - a walk to Ryan Braun and a single by Prince Fielder. But McGehee flied out to left and Lorenzo Cain popped out to Ryan Howard in foul territory.
The lone Phillies run scored only because Braun let a fly ball drop in between centerfielder Cain and him. It was ruled a double for Victorino, although it should have been an easy out.
Victorino scored two batters later on a groundout to second by Carlos Ruiz. So many times, the Phillies have come up short for Hamels. On this night, it was plenty.
Contact staff writer Matt Gelb at 215-854-2928 or mgelb@phillynews.com. Follow on Twitter @magelb.
