Juan Pierre hit a go-ahead, two-run single in the seventh inning to back Cole Hamels, and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Padres 4-1 on Friday night for their 13th straight victory at Petco Park.
While some fans might think it's getting close to the point of no return, manager Bud Black disagreed.
"We're going to keep plugging," Black said. "You can't think that. You can't think that about the season in April, whether you are in first place or last place. You have to keep playing every day. At the end of the season, we'll talk about the season."
Hamels (2-1) improved to 7-2 with a 2.22 ERA in 12 career starts against his hometown Padres. In his last four starts against San Diego, he's 4-0 with a 0.60 ERA.
Shane Victorino hit a solo home run in the eighth, his second. Victorino was hit by a pitch on the left elbow earlier in the at-bat, but umpire Dan Bellino ruled that he leaned into the pitch.
After allowing a run in the fifth, Hamels was assured of the victory thanks to a three-run rally in the seventh. Hamels allowed one run and six hits in six innings, struck out four and walked one.
Edinson Volquez held Philadelphia to two hits through six scoreless innings before allowing three straight singles to open the seventh and load the bases. Andrew Cashner relieved Volquez (0-2) and allowed Brian Schneider's RBI single to right bring in Victorino with the tying run. With one out, Pierre singled to right to score Ty Wigginton and Freddy Galvis.
Jonathan Paplebon pitched the ninth for his fifth save in five chances.
Victorino's homer was off Australian left-hander Josh Spence.
The Padres haven't beaten the Phillies in San Diego since Aug. 16, 2008. Overall, the Phillies are 24-4 at Petco Park since it opened in 2004.
Cameron Maybin tripled to the gap in right-center leading off the fifth. The Padres had stranded seven runners to that point, but after Chase Headley struck out, Maybin scored on Jesus Guzman's grounder to shortstop.
Hamels was called for two balks for the first time in his career, but the Padres weren't able to capitalize.
In the second, after rookie Andy Parrino was forced at third on Volquez's bunt, Hamels' balk moved Orlando Hudson to third and Volquez to second with two outs. Hamels then hit Chris Denorfia with a pitch before striking out Maybin.
In the fourth, Yonder Alonso singled and Hamels was called for another balk, by second base umpire Bob Davidson. Hamels, who appeared to have stepped off the rubber, angrily yelled at Davidson. Alonso took third on Orlando Hudson's single but was thrown out at the plate when Hamels flipped Volquez's bunt with his glove to catcher Brian Schneider.
"We had some at-bats where we ran deep counts," Black said. "We had good at-bats against him. We just couldn't get that big hit. We couldn't string anything together to break through. He seemed to really buckle down when he needed to."
Volquez allowed three runs and five hits in six innings, struck out five and walked three.
