Altherr, Eickhoff power Phillies to victory over desperate Nationals

Final: Phillies 8, Nationals 2

WP: Jerad Eickhoff (2-3, 3.07 ERA) LP: Jordan Zimmermann (13-9, 3.68 ERA)

Washington, DC – Entering Friday evening's series opener against the worst team in baseball, the Philadelphia Phillies (58-96), Matt Williams' Washington Nationals (78-75) stood with a playoff berth elimination number of three.

Behind a strong outing by right hander Jerad Eickhoff, who struck out a career-high 10 batters, and a two home run performance by Aaron Altherr, the Phillies ultimately routed their division rivals at Nationals Park.

The Nationals took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, thanks to a two-out, RBI single to center field by former Phillies' right fielder Jayson Werth.

An inning and a half later, rookie left fielder Aaron Altherr made history for Philadelphia by hitting the franchise's first inside-the-park grand slam since Ted Kazanski on August 8, 1956, and their 14th in franchise history according to The Philadelphia Inquirer's Matt Breen.

The frame began with a leadoff walk and single by right fielder Brian Bogusevic and catcher Cameron Rupp respectively. The following batter, pitcher Jerad Eickhoff, attempted a sacrifice bunt but reached first base on the play to lead the bases.

Two batters later, Altherr delivered with a line drive that went past the diving Michael Taylor in center field. All three runners, including himself, came around to score.

In the top of the fifth, Altherr came through again hit his second home run of the night, a solo shot to left field. Unlike his grand slam earlier in the evening, the rookie's fifth home run of the year was obtained 'the more conventional way' through leaving the yard, as noted by play-by-play broadcaster for Comcast SportsNet, Gregg Murphy.

Two batters later, first baseman Darin Ruf went yard for his 10th home run of the season, and the 29th of his big-league career.

The Nationals' second and only other run scored on the night came off the bat of Werth, a solo shot against Eickhoff with one out in the bottom of the sixth.

Leading by four runs in the top of the eighth, Phillies' third baseman Cody Asche hit a two-run blast to center field off of Nationals' reliever Rafael Martin. This was Asche's third home run over his last four games, and his 12th overall for the season.

The Phillies must win five of their remaining eight games, two of which are on the road, to avoid their first 100-loss season since 1961.

Starting Pitchers

• Eickhoff: W; 99 pitches, 67 strikes; 6 groundout, 2 flyouts; 27 faced batters
• Zimmermann: L; 79 pitches, 57 strikes; 3 groundouts, 0 flyouts; 23 faced batters

Out of the 'Pen

Phillies

• Dalier Hinojosa (8th): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO, 0 HR, 1.00 ERA
• Luis Garcia (9th): 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO, 0 HR, 3.69 ERA

Nationals

• Sammy Solis (6th, 7th): 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO, 0 HR, 4.00 ERA
• Rafael Martin (8th): 1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO, 1 HR, 5.56 ERA
• Matt Grace (9th): 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO, 0 HR, 4.50 ERA

At the Plate

Phillies

• Aaron Altherr: 4-5, 2 R, 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, .252 AVG
• Darin Ruf: 2-3, 2 R, 2B, HR, RBI, BB, .237 AVG
• Cody Asche: 2-4, R, HR, 2 RBI, .250 AVG

Nationals

• Anthony Rendon: 1-3, R, 2B, BB, .275 AVG
• Jayson Werth: 2-4, R, HR, 2 RBI, .228 AVG
• Wilson Ramos: 1-4, .234 AVG

What's Next:

• Saturday, September 26, 2015: at Washington Nationals, 4:05 pm
• RHP Aaron Nola (6-2, 3.84 ERA) vs. RHP Stephen Strasburg (10-7, 3.81 ERA)
• TV: CSN; Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT, WTTM 1680 (Sp.)

• Sunday, September 27, 2015: at Washington Nationals, 1:35 pm
• RHP Aaron Harang (6-15, 4.93 ERA) vs. LHP Gio Gonzalez (11-8, 3.94 ERA)
• TV: CSN; Radio: 98.1 WOGL, 1210 WPHT, WTTM 1680 (Sp.)

Matt Rappa (@mattrappasports) is managing editor of Philliedelphia.com.