Phils win fourth straight behind Hamels' gem

The Phillies remain on fire amid distractions of trade rumors running throughout the clubhouse and the major league baseball community. Last night's 4-3 victory was impressive in many different ways.

Cole Hamels got back on track and threw an absolute gem, and that could not be more encouraging. He pitched eight innings while allowing just four hits and one run, striking out nine. Most importantly, Hamels didn't walk a batter, allowing him to keep his pitch count down and work deep into the ballgame. With August approaching, it's important to have the "real Hamels" back for the home stretch, and last night was a major step in the right direction.

The offense looked great once again, not lighting up the scoreboard but putting together great at bats against one of the best pitchers in baseball in Dan Haren. While only scoring three runs against him, the Phillies were grinding out their at bats all throughout Haren's five innings of work, running up his pitch count and taking advantage of Arizona's mistakes to deal Haren his sixth defeat of the season.

The Brad Lidge experience continued to be a bumpy ride in the ninth, with Lidge needing all three runs of support, allowing a two-run shot to Mark Reynolds which closed the gap to one run, but he managed to hold on and pick up his 20th save of the season.

The Phils look to sweep the Diamondbacks tonight, and they have the right man on the hill to do it. J.A. Happ starts in what could be, but hopefully isn't, his final appearance for Philadelphia. Happ (7-1 2.97) will be opposed by Yusmeiro Petit (0-5 7.68) before the team heads to San Francisco to take on the wild card leading Giants in a four-game set.