Cole Hamels tossed eight strong innings and Ryan Howard belted his team's first home run in 66 innings as the Philadelphia Phillies posted a 2-0 triumph over the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday.

Hamels (8-2) allowed six hits and struck out nine to tie teammate Roy Halladay, Milwaukee's Yovani Gallardo, Pittsburgh's Kevin Correia and Boston's Jon Lester with a major league-best eight wins this season. Hamels has allowed two runs or fewer in eight of his 13 starts.

Ryan Madson overcame a leadoff single to record the final three outs and secure his 14th save in as many opportunities this season.

Howard snapped a scoreless tie in the sixth inning by depositing an offering from Hiroki Kuroda (5-7) into the right field seats. The slugger's 13th homer of the season accounted for his first career hit off the Japanese hurler.

Shane Victorino doubled the advantage in the seventh after he tripled and scored on a fielder's choice by Domonic Brown.

Kuroda suffered the loss after permitting one run on four hits while striking out seven in 5 1/3 innings.