Hamels Goes Distance in Phillies' Shutout

Cole Hamels pitched his first career shutout, Ryan Howard homered and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Atlanta Braves 5-0 last night. Pedro Feliz and Shane Victorino also homered and drove in two runs each for Philly, who lead the majors with 59 homers. Hamels (5-3) gave up just four hits, struck out six and walked two in his first complete game of the season.

All three Phillies’ homers came against Braves starter Chuck James (2-3), who allowed all five runs on six hits with five walks in four shaky innings. Jimmy Rollins added two hits and scored a run for the Phillies. The Braves played without Chipper Jones, who was a late scratch because of a sore groin suffered in his ninth inning at-bat yesterday. (More Philadelphia Phillies stories.)