Phils blanked in series finale

Mariners starter Jason Vargas went the distance, allowing only three hits and striking out six in Seattle's 2-0 shut out of the Phils. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

Riding a seven-game winning streak into Seattle should have had fruitful results. Instead, it provided heart ache for the Phils, who lost two of three to the Mariners.

The rubber match featured Cole Hamels for the Phils and Jason Vargas of the M’s. With it Hamels seeking his 10th win of the season, it never came as Vargas three-hit the Phils en route to a 2-0 shut out win.

Vargas went the distance, allowing three hits and two walks while striking out six. He allowed only his third hit in the 9th, the first since the 4th inning.

Hamels wasn’t his sharpest but shouldn’t have been hung out to dry like he was today. Throwing 118 pitches, the left-hander allowed two runs on seven hits while striking out six.

Fans were arguing the fact that Hamels shouldn’t have started the 7th but with both Michael Stutes and Antonio Bastardo getting days off, Hamels was a better option than who could have been tossed out there.

It wouldn’t have mattered anyway as the Phils were trailing 1-0 heading into the 7th and the offense couldn’t do a thing against Vargas.

Seattle finally broke the scoreless tie in the 6th when Justin Smoak hit a flare into right to score Ichiro Suzuki. They tacked on one more in the 7th with an RBI by Adam Kennedy.

WP: Vargas (5-4). LP: Cole Hamels (9-3).

Boxscore.

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