Harper, Gonzalez lead Nationals past Phillies

Trailing in a one-run game, the Phillies opted to bring in Jake Diekman to face Bryce Harper with two outs and a runner on third. Harper singled and Ryan Zimmerman followed with an RBI double. Ballgame.

The Phillies could not rebound from the move as the Nationals claimed a 4-1 win on Sunday afternoon behind Harper and a strong start from Gio Gonzalez at Nationals Park.

The Phillies scored the first run of the game on an RBI single by Jeff Francoeur in the fourth. The Nationals answered in the bottom of the fourth with an RBI single by Jose Lobaton.

Washington took the lead in the fifth on an RBI groundout by Harper.

Aaron Harang worked another strong start, allowing two runs on seven hits in six innings. Justin De Fratus allowed a lead-off double to Denard Span before getting the next two batters out, bringing Harper to the plate.

That's when Diekman entered the game to face Harper and allowed a bloop single to score the first run and an RBI double to Zimmerman to cap the scoring.

Gonzalez stymied the Phillies through 6 1/3 innings, allowing one run on seven hits.

The Phillies head to New York for a three-game series with the Mets starting on Monday. The first pitch of the series opener is set for 1:10 p.m.

Starting Pitchers

• Harang: L (4-4); 95 pitches, 59 strikes; 8 groundouts, 4 flyouts; 27 faced batters
• Gonzalez: W (4-2); 94 pitches, 64 strikes; 6 groundouts, 0 flyouts; 25 faced batters

Out of the 'Pen

Phillies

• Justin De Fratus (7th): 2/3 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO, 0 HR, 3.57 ERA
• Jake Diekman (7th): 1/3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO, 0 HR, 8.04 ERA
• Jeanmar Gomez (8th): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO, 0 HR, 3.12 ERA

Nationals

• Aaron Barratt (7th): 1/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO, 0 HR, 3.94 ERA
• Matt Grace (7th & 8th): 2/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO, 0 HR, 2.38 ERA
• Casey Janssen (8th): 2/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO, 0 HR, 0.00 ERA
• Drew Storen (9th): 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO, 0 HR, 0.90 ERA

At the Plate:

Phillies

• Jeff Francoeur: 2-3, RBI
• Freddy Galvis: 1-4, R, 2 SO
• Darin Ruf: 1-3, 2B, BB

Nationals

• Bryce Harper: 2-3, R, 2 RBI, BB
• Denard Span: 2-4, R, 2 2B
• Ryan Zimmerman: 1-4, 2B, RBI, 2 SO

What's Next

• Monday, May 25, 2015, at New York Mets, 1:10 p.m.
• RHP Severino Gonzalez (2-1, 7.11 ERA) vs. Bartolo Colon (6-3, 4.85 ERA)
• TV: CSN; Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT, SBP 1480 (Sp.)

Kevin Durso is a contributing writer and editorial assistant for Philliedelphia. Follow him on Twitter @Kevin_Durso.