Hamels strikes out 13 to help Phillies beat Marlins 2-1 and gain ground in NL East

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Hamels leads Phils past Marlins 2-1

MIAMI — Cole Hamels had a season-high 13 strikeouts in 6 2-3 innings, and the Philadelphia Phillies increased their lead in the NL East to two games by beating Florida 2-1 on Tuesday night.

Hamels (11-10) threw a career-high 127 pitches and allowed only one run. The left-hander won his fourth consecutive start and won for the first time in seven career starts in Miami.

Philadelphia increased its cushion in the division when second-place Atlanta lost to Washington 6-0.

Shane Victorino scored both runs for the Phillies, who totaled only five hits and won despite going 0 for 11 with runners in scoring position.

Florida ended Hamels’ streak of 25 1-3 consecutive scoreless innings in the first, bunching three hits, including Dan Uggla’s RBI infield single. But the Marlins managed only three hits the rest of the way.

Brad Lidge, pitching for the first time since Sept. 6, earned his 22nd save in 27 chances with a perfect ninth.

Philadelphia beat Florida for the fourth time in a row and improved to 12-5 against the Marlins. The Phillies have won 12 of their past 13 series, and ace Roy Halladay will help them try for a three-game sweep Wednesday.

The Phils have won 16 of their past 19 road games.

Florida rookie Adalberto Mendez (1-1) allowed two runs in 4 1-3 innings. He pitched six shutout innings to beat the Phillies in his major-league debut last week, but this time they needed only four pitches to score. Victorino led off with a single and came home on Placido Polanco’s double.

Philadelphia went ahead to stay in the fifth. Victorino led off with a double and later scored from third on Jayson Werth’s groundout.

Uggla kept the game close with two defensive gems at second base. Playing 30 feet behind the infield dirt, he made a diving stop of a grounder and threw from his knees to retire Ryan Howard in the first inning. Uggla made a similar play to get Hamels in the fourth.

Notes: Phillies SS Jimmy Rollins (strained right hamstring) rejoined the team and remains day to day. He has been sidelined since last Wednesday. … The Phillies have decided to shuffle the rotation so Hamels, Halladay and Roy Oswalt will face Atlanta next Monday-Wednesday. Kyle Kendrick, who had been scheduled to pitch Friday, will instead pitch Saturday. Oswalt, who was scheduled to pitch Saturday, will pitch Friday on normal rest. … The Phillies said RHP Juan Ramirez, one of three prospects acquired in the Cliff Lee trade, underwent right hip labral surgery last week. He has begun a rehabilitation program and is expected to be ready for spring training. … Marlins CF Cameron Maybin was sent home before the game with a stomach virus. … Before the game, the Marlins recalled RHP Brett Sinkbeil from Triple-A New Orleans. … The start was delayed 20 minutes by rain.