Hamels, Phils blank Brewers

After Alcides Escobar fouled off the third straight Cole Hamels fastball in the seventh inning, Carlos Ruiz realized the Brewers shortstop was slightly more out in front of the pitch than before. He was catching up to the fastball. So Ruiz, with two runners on, called for Hamels' 103d pitch of the night to be a change-up.

"That's a little thing you have to notice," Ruiz said after the Phillies' 1-0 victory over Milwaukee on Friday.

Hamels shook off his catcher. It had to be a fastball.

So many times in 2009, it was the little things that befell Hamels. A few unlucky breaks here and Hamels was staring at an inning gone wayward. A few lazy days in between starts and Hamels wasn't as strong as he used to be when he took the mound.

In 2010, Hamels has learned the importance of understanding the meaning of every action. There was the rigorous off-season conditioning program to strengthen his arm. He has taken clues from Roy Halladay and made it his goal to work harder in the four days in between starts so he can make the day he takes the mound easier.

Hamels said he's put on 10 pounds to crack the 200-pound mark, something he said he's been trying to do for five years. That has resulted in a consistently higher fastball velocity.

"He feels much better about himself," Charlie Manuel said. "I think last year he had high expectations on himself and he never had gone through adversity where he struggled to really pitch good. I think that is all part of growing up in the major leagues."

On Friday, Hamels' long day was nearing an end and in his mind, he had exactly the image of how he would walk off the mound. It had to be a fastball.

At 4 a.m. Friday, Hamels got off the team charter with the rest of the Phillies. No one would have blamed Hamels for skipping the 24-hour trip to Denver on Thursday. The pitcher was starting Friday, so he could have flown home ahead of the Phillies for a good night's sleep.

A few days ago, Hamels laughed at the idea. He has an 11-month son, Caleb, who makes quiet nights a rare occurrence.

"I know how to function without sleep," Hamels joked.

So here he was, about 17 hours after leaving the plane, with the 108th straight sellout crowd at Citizens Bank Park standing for the fourth consecutive pitch. It had to be a fastball.

"I wanted to go back to the heater," Hamels said. "But he saw something. That's something I can't see. When a guy is late on a pitch, I know I can reach back and give it a little bit more. He sees it. I trust him now. If this was our first year together, I don't think I would have gone with it."

So Hamels acquiesced. Remember, the little things. He threw a change-up. Escobar swung wildly and missed.

Hamels walked off the mound with seven more scoreless innings, giving him an 18-inning scoreless streak 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.

The Phillies moved to within one game of the first-place Atlanta Braves in the NL East. They haven't been that close since Aug. 6.

"Uh-oh," a smirking Shane Victorino said after watching the final out of the Braves' loss to Florida in the clubhouse. "We're getting closer."

Hamels has been consistently dominant for the entire second half. He won Friday, pitching with effectively no run support yet again. In 13 of Hamels' 28 starts, the Phillies have scored two or fewer runs.

"Mentally, you have to be sharp," Hamels said. "You understand that one mistake is the game. I think because I've had games like that I've been able to prepare myself a little bit better. I know what it means. Anytime I go out there, any pitch I make, I know every single one means something."

His relievers - Jose Contreras and Ryan Madson - made Hamels' work stand up. Ruiz, proud of his pitcher for trusting him, said Hamels has better stuff than he did during the 2008 postseason when the lefthander was crowned World Series MVP.

"It's how I feel today," Hamels said, "and not two years ago."

Today, Cole Hamels looks every bit like an ace.

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