Hamels, Rollins lead Philadelphia to rare series win

PHILADELPHIA -- An extra day off didn't affect Cole Hamels.

The two-time All-Star left-hander threw seven strong innings in his first start back from suspension, Jimmy Rollins ended a long homerless drought and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the San Diego Padres 3-2 on Sunday.

Hamels (5-1) allowed one run and five hits, striking out five. The 2008 World Series MVP was suspended five games by Major League Baseball after admitting he intentionally hit Washington rookie Bryce Harper with a pitch last week.

Hamels didn't miss a turn in the rotation, however. He just was pushed back a day. The Phillies have won his last six starts, the longest streak in Hamels' seven-year career.

"He's been bearing down and making good pitches when he has to and using all his pitches," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "He's been tremendous for us."

Hamels walked a couple batters early, uncharacteristic for him. He settled in nicely afterward, though.

"He pitched well. He's having a fine year no doubt about it," Padres manager Bud Black said. "Early in the game, his change-up wasn't quite where he wanted, but from the fourth inning on, he had it working."

Rollins gave the Phillies a 1-0 lead with his 38th career leadoff homer, extending his franchise record. He blasted one out to right off Jeff Suppan (2-1) for his first homer this season. Rollins went 162 at-bats with hitting a homer, dating to last year and including the postseason.

"Jimmy is going to get going," Manuel said. "It's just a matter of when. The sooner the better. He will."

Jonathan Papelbon struck out two in a scoreless ninth for his 10th save in as many chances. The victory gave the last-place Phillies two of three from the Padres for Philadelphia's first series win since beating Atlanta two of three to start the month.

Suppan allowed three runs -- two earned -- and six hits in six innings.

"They hit a home run to start the game and then had some good situational hitting," Suppan said. "I thought I threw the ball pretty well. I had good location and tried to keep the ball out of the middle."

A fielding error by San Diego third baseman James Darnell allowed Ty Wigginton to reach base in the second inning. Brian Schneider, starting at catcher because Carlos Ruiz got the day off, drove him in with an RBI single to make it 2-0.

"It's tough," Schneider said about getting limited at-bats. "All you can do is try and get your swings in in the."

The Padres cut it to 2-1 on an RBI groundout by Jesus Guzman in the third. Chris Denorfia hit a one-out double, stole third and scored on the grounder.

Juan Pierre doubled in Schneider with two outs to give the Phillies a 3-1 lead in the fifth. Despite starting only 21 games, Pierre is only four hits behind Shane Victorino for the team lead.

"I tried to push a bunt and couldn't get it down," Pierre said. "I know Schneider over there can't run that well. He left one out over the plate and I was able to get on top of it. I don't usually pull down the line like that."

San Diego manufactured a run in the eighth off Jose Contreras the same way it did in the third. This time, Guzman hit the double. He stole third and scored on Nick Hundley's groundout.

But reliever Antonio Bastardo ended the threat prior to Papelbon finishing off the Padres.

"Our guy kept us in the game," Black said. "We just couldn't get anything going and Papelbon held us down in the ninth."

The five-time defending NL East champion Phillies opened an eight-game homestand by getting swept by the New York Mets in three straight. They're 16-19 with Houston on its way to Philadelphia for two games.

"We have a lot of home games. It's not the way we wanted to start," Schneider said. "Hopefully we can take some momentum from here and get the job done."

Notes: Rollins' first homer came in Phillies' 35th game. It's the longest he went without a homer to start a season since 2004 when he hit his first in the 42nd game. That also came against the Padres. ... Hamels improved to 8-2 in 13 career starts against his hometown Padres. ... The Padres have scored three runs or less in 24 of 35 games this season, and two or fewer in 17. ... The Phillies improved to 4-14 when they score three or less. ... Philadelphia cleanup hitter Hunter Pence has one hit in his last 19 at-bats. His average has dropped from .274 to .243. ... Padres outfielder Mark Kotsay, who left Saturday's game because of tightness in his lower back, told Black that he was feeling better. ... Padres third baseman Chase Headley got his first day off this season. Darnell started in his spot and made a costly error.