PHILADELPHIA -- Cole Hamels used an amped-up fastball in his latest dominant performance. Hamels pitched eight strong innings and Chase Utley had a tiebreaking RBI single in the fifth inning to lift the Philadelphia Phillies to a 2-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Thursday. Hamels (5-5) got the better of Tim Hudson in a matchup between starters who have combined for seven All-Star appearances. The Philadelphia left-hander gave up six hits while striking out 10 and walking one. More noted for his changeup, Hamels has found an extra gear for his fastball over his last two starts. After using it to shut down Atlanta in a 2-1 win last Saturday, Hamels frequently featured a heater that again touched the mid-90s. "Hes really gone with his fastball to set up his other pitches," Philadelphia manager Ryne Sandberg said. "Hes got everything behind him. Hes feeling very good; hes feeling strong." Added Hamels: "Everything was coming out the right way. I wasnt having to put as much effort into each pitch." Hudson (8-7) gave up two runs in six innings although both were unearned. The right-hander struck out six and walked two. "Youre hoping your guy gives you a chance, and thats what (Hudson) did," San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said. "He pitched great." The Giants, who were looking for their first four-game sweep in Philadelphia since 1998, lost for just the second time in eight games. San Franciscos lead over the idle Dodgers in the NL West dropped to 1 1/2 games entering this weekends three-game series between the rivals at AT&T Park. Despite the defeat, the Giants return home feeling positive after a 5-2 road trip. "Thats a really good road trip," Bochy said. "Weve got a big series ahead of us. Its going to be a good, exciting series. Its what you play for." Utley, Marlon Byrd and Wil Nieves had a pair of hits for Philadelphia, which snapped its four-game losing streak while winning for just the second time in nine games. Jonathan Papelbon pitched a scoreless ninth for his 24th save in 27 opportunities to stop a rocky stretch. Papelbon blew his third save in Tuesdays 9-6, 14-inning defeat and took the loss in Wednesdays 3-1 loss. He was booed upon entering the field and then again when he was introduced by PA announcer Dan Baker. Papelbon pitched a 1-2-3 inning to tie Goose Gossage for 21st place on the all-time save list with career save No. 310. Philadelphia slugger Ryan Howard wasnt in the lineup for the second straight day as Sandberg has decided to look elsewhere to find production from first base. Howard has been in a power drought with just one homer since June 19 and his .224 average, .377 slugging percentage and .682 on-base plus slugging mark are well off his usual production. The move was eye-opening considering the three-time All-Star and former MVPs dominance against Hudson, against whom he has batted .328 with seven homers and 17 RBIs in 67 career at-bats. Howards replacement, Darin Ruf, went 1-for-4 with a strikeout. "I wanted to see (Ruf) play for a couple of games, get him some at-bats and basically go from there," Sandberg said. "Well continue to watch." Sandberg met with Howard prior to the game, and Howard said he wanted to be in the lineup. But the manager made no promises, adding that a platoon with the right-handed hitting Ruf was possible. "If he has trouble against left-handed pitching and Darin Ruf is swinging it, that becomes an option," Sandberg said. "If (a platoon) becomes the scenario and both guys are going well, thats a good scenario." The Phillies got some help on both of their runs off of Hudson. In the first, Jimmy Rollins hit a one-out double, went to third on a passed ball and scored on Byrds single to left. San Francisco tied the game in the fifth on Ehire Adrianzas RBI single to centre. Philadelphia got some more good fortune in the bottom of the frame as Ben Revere opened the inning with a medium flyball to left. Michael Morse charged hard but couldnt come up with the grab and the error allowed Revere to reach second. Revere scored on Utleys single to centre. Hamels went at least seven innings for the 13th time in the last 15 starts and gave up three runs or less for the 11th consecutive outing. The left-hander reached double-digits in strikeouts for the fourth time this season and 27th in his career. Hamels cooled off Hunter Pence, who went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts. Pence entered batting .412 with a homer and six RBIs in the series, including the game-winning double in Wednesdays 3-1 Giants victory. "I dont ever recall his fastball being as good as it was today," Hudson said. Nieves came up limping after moving awkwardly to block a fourth-inning pitch to Adam Duvall but stayed in the game. Nieves was activated Monday after spending a month on the DL with a strained right quad. NOTES: Adrianza strained his right hamstring running the bases in the fifth inning. Bochy said hell be evaluated further on Friday. ... The Giants open a pivotal three-game series at home against the rival Dodgers on Friday with San Francisco right-hander Tim Lincecum (9-6, 3.68) opposing Los Angeles right-hander Zack Greinke (11-6, 2.90). . Philadelphia hosts Arizona for a three-game set that begins Friday when Diamondbacks lefty Wade Miley (6-6, 4.16) takes on Phillies right-hander Kyle Kendrick (4-10, 4.87). . The Giants last swept a four-game series against the Phillies Aug. 30-Sept. 2, 1999, and last did it in Philadelphia July 31-Aug. 3, 1998. Billige Nike Air Max .C. - The Carolina Hurricanes hope they now have the leadership tandem in place to turn the franchise around. Air Max Dk . Since coming to the big leagues in late May, La Stella is 6 for 7 with the bases loaded, driving in 13 runs in those at-bats. http://www.airmaxdanmark.com/ . In a series of tweets, it is explained by the Department of Player Safety that Niederreiter makes full body contact with Burrows and although there is head contact, he does not "pick" the head in the course of making the hit. Nike Air Max Danmark Billig .28 for a combined time of 1:14.70, also an Olympic record. Lee won the gold medal, defending her title from the Vancouver Games. Billigste Nike Air Max .Martin Caceres marked his return from injury by scoring in the 3-1 win at Napoli and he believes Juventus sent out a warning to the rest of the league with that result.We go out on the pitch every game looking to give our all, Caceres said.MONTREAL - Shim Suk Hee of South Korea won gold and Canadas Valerie Maltais took the bronze medal in the womens 1,000-metre race Sunday at the world short track speed skating championship. However, Canadas top skater Charles Hamelin saw his chances for a first overall world championship title compromised when he was disqualified from a mens 1,000-metre semifinal for obstruction. Five-time overall world champion Victor An of Russia won the mens race ahead of Sjinkie Knegt of the Netherlands and Park Se Yeong of South Korea. Shim, a bronze medallist in the event three weeks ago at the Sochi Olympics, led South Korea to a one-two finish as she came in ahead of Park Seung-Hi. It was Shims second gold of the meet to go with her 1,500-metres win on Friday. Maltais, of La Baie, Que., edged Britains Elise Christie for third place. Christie led early but was forced to cut well inside the track by Shim and droppped back.dddddddddddd No foul was called. "That early on in the race its not a very sportsmanlike thing to do, but she did it and she got a medal for it," said Christie, who was penalized three times in Sochi for fouls. "It worked for her and unfortunatelty it didnt work for me." Hamelin was penalized when he tried to pass Chinas Shi Jingnan on the inside and lost balance, sending Shi and American Chris Creavling sprawling into the padded rink walls. Hamelins last shot at the title will come later Sunday in the 3,000-metres. He won the 1,500 and took bronze in the 500-metre earlier in the three-day championship. The relays are also later Sunday. American J.R. Celski looked to have a spot in the final locked up, but was eliminated when Knegt thrust a skate forward and beat him by two-1,000ths of a second. "It sucks, but it was a good race," said Celski. 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