"Lately, Cole Hamels has been very predictable when he takes the mound. Better yet, on a pitching staff loaded with consistent pros, Hamels just might be the most reliable of the bunch this season.

And that's saying something.

Hamels pitched seven-plus innings, allowing just three hits and a walk in the 9-1 victory over the Florida Marlins at the Bank on Tuesday night. After giving up two hits and a run in the first inning, the lefty retired the next 17 he faced in which he allowed just three fair balls to go past the infield.

However, the strong winds and sub-seasonal temperatures mixed with the long innings in the dugout brought on by the Phillies' offensive surge ended Hamels' night prematurely. After walking Wes Helms to start the eighth inning, Hamels left the game with back tightness.

Fortunately for manager Charlie Manuel and the Phillies, Hamels says he does not expect to miss a start.

"I have an appointment with the chiropractor tomorrow, I'm excited," Hamels said after he improved his record to 9-2 and lowered his ERA to 2.49.

Better yet, Hamels says he does not expect to miss his next start, scheduled for next Tuesday in St. Louis.

"I want to go out and pitch as much as possible. I don't ever want to come out of the game," Hamels said. "But at the same time, sometimes there's situations where you have some doubt and you're better off not trying to force anything. I think that was kind of the situation with how long the game was. The temperature of my body just kind of went cold and I was stiffening up. To go out and try to pitch at your best when you're stiff that obviously just an opportunity to put yourself in a bad situation and put yourself in an opportunity to get hurt. I want to be able to make every start and to be healthy. If there's one little bump it's not really a big deal."

Of course part of the reason why the Phillies have a chiropractor in the first place is because of Hamels. Back in 2005 when he was still making his way through the minors, Hamels was shut down in mid-July after back spasms revealed a herniated disc. In 2007 when a shoulder injury sent him to the disabled list for the first (and only) time in his big-league career, Hamels lobbied for a team chiropractor and has been a longtime devotee of the practice. "