MILWAUKEE (AP) -- This time, the little run support Cole Hamels got was enough for him and the Philadelphia Phillies to beat the slumping Milwaukee Brewers.
Chase Utley hit a two-run homer, and Hamels allowed one earned run in 6 2/3 innings for his first victory in a month as the Phillies edged the Brewers 3-2 on Monday night.
Hamels (3-5) allowed two runs and seven hits, struck out seven and walked two for his first victory since June 6 -- a span of six starts.
"I had a little bit of trouble with trying to get ahead of these guys," said Hamels, who has allowed 10 earned runs in 55 2/3 innings in his last eight starts. "I know they're a really good hitting team. So, it's not like I want to lay balls right down the middle.
"I know they've got the power numbers to hit it out of the ball park, so I kind of put myself in some tight situations with trying to be too fine with the early pitches and then having to pitch out of jams. But, got some good defense. It's just good to have some runs."
Ken Giles finished the seventh and worked the eighth. Jonathan Papelbon pitched a perfect ninth inning for his 20th save in 22 chances.
"All three guys were outstanding," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. "That's what it took for the win. That type of effort by them, with the early offense, which was nice, but we weren't able to add on."
Philadelphia rebounded after falling a season-high 14 games below .500 on Sunday when Pittsburgh completed a series sweep. Dating to last season, the Phillies also had lost 14 consecutive games and 27 of 28 when scoring three runs or fewer.
Utley, the starting National League All-Star second baseman, staked the Phillies to a 2-0 lead in the first with his seventh homer, driving an 0-1 pitch from Marco Estrada (7-6) over the right-field wall. It was the 27th home run allowed by Estrada, the most in the majors.
It was the sixth loss in seven games for the Brewers, who have had sole possession of first place in the NL Central since April 9.
The Phillies extended the lead to 3-0 in the third when Utley singled with two outs. He then scored from first on Ryan Howard's single to right-center.
Jeff Bianchi's pinch-single pulled the Brewers within 3-2 in the fifth. Milwaukee loaded the bases with no outs on a single by Khris Davis, Mark Reynolds reaching on an error by third baseman Cody Asche, and a single by Jean Segura. Bianchi then lined an opposite-field, two-run single just over the glove of first baseman Howard.
Right fielder Marlon Byrd helped limit the damage by throwing out Segura at third on the play. Hamels then enticed Rickie Weeks to bounce into a force out and retired Ryan Braun on a ground out.
"I thought Hamels threw the ball well," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. "When he got people on base, he made some really good pitches. We had a few opportunities -- not a lot -- but we had a few to get a big at-bat and we didn't get the big at-bat."
Hamels also escaped in the seventh inning when Davis drew a leadoff walk, and Reynolds launched a towering drive down the left-field line that narrowly hooked foul.
"I was hoping it would hit the pole," said Reynolds, who has been stuck on 13 home runs since June 2. "I got out in front of a changeup a little bit and just hooked it a little too much. Barely."
NOTES: Braun, who missed Sunday's game in Cincinnati after leaving in the second inning on Saturday because of lower-back spasms, started in right field. He was removed for a pinch-runner after doubling to open the eighth. ... New Marquette men's basketball coach Steve Wojciechowski threw out the first pitch. . The Brewers traded minor league right-hander Rodolfo Fernandez to Oakland for International Signing Bonus Slot No. 57 ($339,000). Fernandez was 1-0 with a 2.87 ERA and two saves in 14 relief appearances with the Timber Rattlers. . Papelbon has recorded at least 20 saves in nine consecutive seasons.
