Phillies Notes: Phils' Hamels satisfied with outing

SAN FRANCISCO - With two outs and the bases loaded in the sixth inning

Wednesday, Cole Hamels walked Andres Torres to force in a run.

It was just the third time in his career he walked in a run. But Hamels, who prides himself on his high rate of throwing strikes, wasn't upset; he kept the ball down in the strike zone.

"If being down is something where I'm not being as aggressive or I'm not going after a hitter, so be it," Hamels said. "I'll take a walk vs. a home run."

Hamels allowed four runs on nine hits over six innings in the Phillies' 7-6 win. He once again performed well with the exception of one inning. Hamels struck out 10 for the first time this season.

After walking Torres in the sixth, Hamels allowed a two-run single to Edgar Renteria, giving the Giants a 4-1 lead. By the end of the inning, Hamels had reached 113 pitches and his day was done.

Hamels said Torres changed his approach. Against Roy Halladay, Torres saw five pitches in four at-bats. Hamels said he went after Torres, but the hitter was more patient than before.

"I felt like Hamels threw some real close pitches, and I was questioning some of those," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "The Giants did a good job of working him early in the game. But his stuff was really good today. He was aggressive."

Hamels walked four in six innings.

"I felt like I was able to battle out there and go after hitters and finish them off," Hamels said.

Despite the line's not looking as good as he wants, he was pleased with the results. His 2010 ERA stands at 5.28. He said he feels consistency is coming.

Of his 113 pitches, 67 were strikes.

"I'm not going to take away anything negative from the way I attacked the strike zone, because I felt I did that really well," Hamels said. "I was able to really go after them."

Ryan Howard hit a home run for the first time since signing his five-year, $125 million contract extension Monday.

His fifth-inning home run off Tim Lincecum also snapped a career-high drought of 65 at-bats without a homer.

Was Howard aware of the slump?

"No, I really don't care," Howard said.

Howard also doubled off Lincecum in the seventh. He walked in the ninth and scored the game-tying run from first base on Jayson Werth's double.

Closer Brad Lidge doesn't have any more rehab outings scheduled, but Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said no decision has been made on when Lidge will return to the Phillies.

Lidge told reporters after his two-inning outing in double-A Reading on Tuesday he was ready to be activated Friday, when the Phillies return home to face the Mets.

"He progressed really well last time out," Amaro said. "We're still discussing it internally."

Manuel said he wasn't sure if Lidge would immediately step in as closer upon his return.

Chase Utley collected his 1,000th career hit with a single in the ninth inning. . . . Werth was 1 for 16 with runners in scoring position this season before his three-run ninth-inning double. Werth has reached base safely in every game this season. He is hitting .315. . . . The Phillies ended their nine-game road trip with a 4-5 record. . . . The first-place Mets come to Citizens Bank Park beginning Friday. Kyle Kendrick starts against Jonathan Niese in the opener.