PHILADELPHIA — If this final exhibition tuneup was any indication, Cole Hamels will not be distracted by his contract situation.

Hamels pitched four scoreless innings in his final start before the regular season, Placido Polanco hit a three-run home run and the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-2 Tuesday night in the last exhibition game.

Hamels gave up three hits, struck out five and retired the final nine batters.

“That’s why I have an agent,” Hamels said of his contract which expires after this season. “I need to go out and pitch.”

Hamels, the Most Valuable Player of the 2008 NLCS and World Series, was 14-9 with a 2.79 ERA last season.

For a barometer, the San Francisco Giants and pitcher Matt Cain recently agreed to a six-year, $127.5 million extension.

“You have teammates,” Hamels said smiling, “and they always let me know what’s going on.”

Manager Charlie Manuel was impressed with Hamels’ performance.

“Cole was sharp,” Manuel said. “He stayed down in the strike zone. He had good stuff. He’s been throwing good all spring.”

Polanco provided the bulk of the offense with a blast off Tim Wood into the seats in left field as part of a four-run fifth inning. It was Polanco’s first homer of the spring.

Hunter Pence added an RBI double and Shane Victorino had an RBI single for the Phillies, who open the regular season Thursday afternoon at Pittsburgh.

The Pirates took a 2-1 lead in the fifth inning after Robbie Grossman hit an RBI double and Yamaico Navarro followed with a single, scoring Grossman.

Pittsburgh starter James McDonald allowed two hits and one earned run in three innings. He entered the game with an 0-2 record and 9.16 ERA in five previous starts this spring.