PHILLIES NEWS

Cole Hamels went 7 innings allowing 1 run on 8 hits while striking out 8 for his 10th win of the season thus far, against just 4 losses. Meanwhile the Phils offense blitzed the Astros for 8 runs on 13 hits. Wes Helms doubled in Pat Burrell in the second inning for a 1-0 lead. Wes Helms and Jimmy Rollins both hit solo homers in 5th inning for a 3-1 lead. Chase Utley tripled and scored in the 6th inning for a 4-1 lead. Finally, in the 8th inning the Phils put it away for good. Ryan Howard hit a 2 run homer, two batters later Pat Burrell added a solo shot, and Wes Helms singled and scored on a wild pitch, to put the Phils up by a laughable score of 8-1. Thus, ensuring that no umpire error would cost the Phils another game. Houston tacked a couple runs in the 8th and 9th innings, but despite allowing a leadoff homerun to Hunter Pence, Brian Sanches closed out the Stros in the 9th and the Phils got the win easily 8-3. At the same time the Mets were blown out in Colorado 17-7, so the Phils are now back to within 4 games of first in the NL East. However, Atlanta salvaged a game with Dodgers, so the Phils remain in 3rd place. Life is still beautiful again though.