CINCINNATI  The banner was draped over the railing of the upper deck in left field, its red block letters crystallizing the hopes of towel-waving Cincinnati Reds fans who jammed Great American Ball Park in record numbers for Game 3 of the National League division series. It read, “We Still Believe.”

It was a gargantuan leap of faith. The Reds trailed by two games to none in the series, had thrown away a four-run lead to lose Game 2, and Sunday night needed to beat Philadelphia Phillies starter Cole Hamels, who was 6-0 in seven career starts against them with a 1.07 earned run average.

It proved too much to overcome. The left-handed Hamels, the 2008 World Series most valuable player, tossed a five-hitter and the Phillies won, 2-0, to finish their first postseason sweep. An hour after the game, the banner was still on the railing, abandoned.