Washington, DC – Phillies starter Sean O'Sullivan did his best to keep his team in the game, but a sixth-inning double by Ian Desmond paired with another gem from Max Scherzer gave the Nationals the advantage in this one, 2-1. Bryce Harper went deep for his 16th home run of the year to tie the game early on before Desmond's double put the Nats ahead in the sixth. Despite getting some hard hits off of Max Scherzer, the Phillies offense was unable to capitalize on many opportunities against the Nationals ace.
The Phillies got on the board first tonight. After Maikel Franco reached base on a fielders choice in the second inning, Odubel Herrera smacked an RBI-double to center field to give the Phils an early 1-0 lead.
Bryce Harper made sure that lead wouldn't last. He led off the bottom half of the second with a solo home run, his 16th of the year, and his third off of O'Sullivan in six career at-bats.
Still locked at one a piece in the sixth, Max Scherzer started off the Nationals half of the inning with a single. Two hitters later, Ian Desmond hit an RBI-double to right field, giving Washington a 2-1 advantage. Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera misjudged the ball and allowed it to carom away from him.
In the ninth, Chase Utley led off with a single to left before Nationals closer Drew Storen got Ryan Howard to strike out swinging. Maikel Franco reached base on a hard ground ball that deflected off of Ian Desmond for a base hit, putting runners on first and second with just one out. Unfortunately, Grady Sizmore was retired on a first pitch fly out to left and Odubel Herrera struck out to end the Phillies hope of a late-inning rally.
Starting Pitcher Report:
| IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sean O'Sullivan | 6 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3.54 |
| Max Scherzer | 8 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 1.67 |
- O'Sullivan: L; 88 pitches, 50 strikes; 8 groundouts, 3 flyouts; 23 batters faced
- Scherzer: W; 110 pitches, 79 strikes; 8 groundouts, 6 flyouts; 29 batters faced
Out of the 'Pen
Nationals
- Drew Storen (9th): 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO, 0 HR, SV (13), 0.98 ERA
Phillies
- Luis Garcia (7th): 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO, 0 HR, 3.32 ERA
- Ken Giles (8th): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO, 0 HR, 1.86 ERA
At the Plate:
Nationals
- Bryce Harper (.336): 1-for-2, HR. RBI, BB
- Ian Desmond (.246): 1-for-3, 2B, RBI, K
- Max Scherzer (.182): 1-for-2, R
Phillies
- Odubel Herrera (.263): 1-for-3, 2B, RBI, BB, K
- Chase Utley (.179): 2-for-4, 2B
- Maikel Franco (.258): 1-for-4, R
What's Next
Saturday, May 23rd, 2015: at Washington Nationals, 4:05 pm
- LHP Cole Hamels (4-3, 3.24 ERA) vs. RHP Stephen Strasburg (3-4, 5.98 ERA)
- TV: TCN; Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT, SBP 1480 (Sp.)
Sunday, May 24th, 2015: at Washington Nationals, 1:35 pm
- RHP Aaron Harang (4-3, 1.82 ERA) vs. LHP Gio Gonzalez (3-2, 4.94 ERA)
- TV: CSN; Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT, SBP 1480 (Sp.)
Brandon Apter, Publishing Editor for Philliedelphia.com
