Hamels, Phils Coming Home Losers

Phils ace Cole Hamels couldn't get the job done Sunday as the Phillies lost their first series in about a month and dropped their fourth game out of their last five to end their West Coast swing on a down note.

Freddy Sanchez had two hits and two RBI in his first game with San Francisco, Barry Zito made his third straight strong start and the Giants beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-3 on Sunday.

Sanchez, who was acquired from Pittsburgh two days before the trade deadline last week, singled in his first at-bat then added a two-run double in the sixth when San Francisco scored three times to break the game open.

The bright spot for the Phillies was Bay-Area native Jimmy Rollins. The Phils shortstop homered early and added another hit late but it wasn't enough.

The Phightins still own the second-best record in the National League despite going 6-5 over their last 11 games.

The game got away from Hamels in the fifth inning. Sanchez tied the game at three with his RBI double. He then scored when Phils first baseman Ryan Howard fielded Pablo Sandoval's infield single and flipped it (more like butchered it) over the head of Hamels, who was covering first.

The Giants would touch Hamels for three more runs in the sixth.

Hamels (7-6) gave up all seven runs (six earned) and lost for the first time since July 1. It was his first loss in five career starts against San Francisco.

The Phils now return home to open up a three-game set with the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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