PHILADELPHIA -- Larry Bowa has come to expect this type of outing from Randy Wolf.
The Philadelphia left-hander pitched a five-hitter for his fifth career shutout, and Bobby Abreu and Mike Lieberthal drove in first-inning runs as the Phillies beat the Houston Astros 2-0 on Saturday.
"I've seen him pitch games like this," Bowa said. "He doesn't surprise me any more. He's one of the best left-handers in the league, believe me."
Wolf (5-2) struck out six and walked one in his first shutout this season. He allowed a two-out walk and single in the eighth inning, but got Craig Biggio to ground out to end the threat. It was his ninth career complete game.
"He doesn't light up that gun, but he's very deceptive," the Phillies manager said. "He changes speeds, he uses both sides of the plate. He keeps the ball down and when he goes up, it looks like he's throwing the ball about 94 or 95 miles an hour."
Wolf gave up a leadoff double to Biggio in the first, then retired 12 straight before Richard Hidalgo singled down the left-field line to start the fifth inning. The ball was nearly touched by a fan and a ball boy before Pat Burrell scooped it up and threw out Hidalgo attempting to stretch it into a double.
"I felt pretty strong tonight," Wolf said. "With their lineup, I knew that I really had to be sharp and keep them off balance. This is a dangerous lineup. There's not one out in there."
The Phillies won their third straight, while Houston has dropped two in a row since winning a season-high seven straight. It was the second time the Astros were shut out this season.
"I was really able to locate my fastball tonight," Wolf said. "It set up my other pitches."
Houston starting pitcher Wade Miller (1-4) left in the first inning when he was hit on the right thigh by a line drive off the bat of Jim Thome.
"It didn't really hurt at first," said Miller, who is listed as day-to-day. "It took a little while for it to sink in. I knew I was going to feel pain after a while. I thought I could have stayed in - at least check it out - but (manager Jimy Williams) pulled me."
Thome hit a 95 mph fastball that bounced off Miller's thigh into short left field. Miller had given up a run when leadoff hitter Jimmy Rollins walked, advanced to second on a groundout, and scored on Abreu's single.
Right-hander Brandon Puffer came in and allowed Lieberthal's RBI single and walked Burrell before getting out of the inning.
Miller was charged with both runs and two hits in one-third of an inning.
Puffer allowed four hits in 3 2/3 innings. He was followed by relievers Ricky Stone, Brad Lidge, and Octavio Dotel, who held the Phillies without a hit the rest of the way.
Williams said he was very pleased with his bullpen.
"They kept the game where, even though Wolf was as tough as he was, we still had a chance," Williams said. "We still had the tying run at the plate in the ninth."
Jeff Kent singled with two out in the ninth, but Hidalgo flied out to center.
Lieberthal, off to the best start of his nine-year career, had two hits and is 5-for-8 in the two games against the Astros with one homer and two RBI.
Notes: Thome is 3-for-4 lifetime against Miller, and Abreu is 4-for-8. ... Puffer extended his scoreless string to 8 1/3 innings over his last five outings ... The Astros play their final scheduled game at Veterans Stadium on Sunday. The Phillies' new ballpark opens next season.
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