The 2-0 lead — then the fourth inning, when the Phillies manufactured another run on two singles and two groundouts — was all Hamels needed.

Twice, he worked 1-2-3 innings. Three other times, he faced the minimum three batters in an inning, thanks to a pair of double-play balls and one pickoff/caught stealing play.

Hamels pointed to one flashpoint in the third inning. The Rays loaded the bases with one out, bringing up B.J. Upton, who had seven homers in the first two playoff rounds. This time, his sharp grounder was speared by third baseman Pedro Felix, who turned an inning-ending double play.

“That’s huge,’’ Hamels said. “With the lineup Tampa has, they’re very devastating. They can hit the long ball. And that was something I was very aware of, especially with B.J. He’s the type of guy who can change a game in an instant.

“After getting the double play, I think that was definitely the kind of momentum swing into our favor for the game. If they can load the bases with less than two outs and not be able to score, then you definitely have the upper hand.’’

The Rays just couldn’t patch together many opportunities (their 2-3-4 batters were 0-for-12). Akinori Iwamura’s RBI double in the fifth cut Philadelphia’s lead to 3-2, but Upton popped out, again ending an inning by stranding a runner in scoring position.

Hamels and the back end of Philadelphia’s bullpen — Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge — retired the last 11 Tampa Bay batters in order.

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But the Philadelphia pitching got its needed kick-start from Utley’s early blow.

“I can’t think of any other way to quiet them [Tampa Bay fans] down,’’ Manuel said. “That’s how you do it. If you want to take the wind out of their sails and shut the cowbells up, that will do it.

“Except in [Philadelphia’s] Citizens Bank Park. If you hit enough there, they ring a bell, too. They ring the Liberty Bell. So that would be good.’’

As Manuel spoke, Tropicana Field was quiet.

Utley started it. Hamels finished it.

So far, it’s the perfect prescription for the Phillies. Amid the sound of silence, they are three victories away from a championship

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