By Sam Bush
When you have the worst record in the National League, shutting out a team with a .217 batting average and posting a three-game winning streak are reasons for joy.
Reid Brignac hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Phillies to a 3-0 victory over the San Diego Padres on Wednesday night.
The Phillies have won consecutive games for the first time since a three-game streak May 17-20.
Cole Hamels struck out a season-high 11 and allowed five hits in eight shutout innings for the Phillies. Jonathan Papelbon (2-1) tossed a scoreless ninth for the win.
Nick Vincent (0-2) walked Domonic Brown with one out and hit Carlos Ruiz on a 1-2 pitch. Brignac then sent a 2-0 pitch into the right-field seats for his first homer with the Phillies and his second walk-off hit in two weeks.
Brignac, who was just 8 for 40 with 19 strikeouts, pointed into the dugout as he jogged to first, slapped his hands together after rounding the bag and was mobbed at the plate by jubilant teammates.
Brignac had a game-winning RBI single in the 14th inning of 6-5 win over the New York Mets on May 30.
Jimmy Rollins stole two bases on the same pitch in the Phillies first after moving within three hits of breaking Mike Schmidt’s franchise record of 2,234.
Rollins lined a one-out single to right, but jogged slowly to first and was grimacing in pain. He appeared hobbled perhaps because he hit a foul off his leg.
Hamels pitched out of a couple jams in the early innings. Cameron Maybin led off the third with a double and advanced on Jace Peterson’s sacrifice, a drag bunt attempt. But Hamels fanned Ross and retired Chris Denorfia on a grounder.
San Diego loaded the bases with two outs in the fourth, but Hamels struck out Maybin swinging to end the inning.
The Padres, who entered with the worst batting average in the majors at .217, had just five hits and none after the fourth inning.
Carlos Quentin (1 for 29), Everth Cabrera (0 for 23) and Peterson (0 for 20) continued their slumps, going a combined 0 for 10 with six strikeouts.
