Howard, Ibanez Go Yard Back-to-Back; Phillies Take Game One in Washington

Posted by Danielle Wilson

The Phillies hopped on the train to Washington from New York to take on the Nationals for a three-game series. Roy Halladay who has won his last nine decisions against Washington/Montreal took the mound flashing a 2.58 earned run average.

The pesky Nats took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second thanks to Mike Morse's solo homer. Jerry Hairston scored in the same inning off of Livan Hernandez' sacrifice fly. 2-0 Nationals.

Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez showed off their hot bats in the scorching hot weather launching back-to-back home runs in the fourth inning. Domonic Brown singled to score Ruiz who had doubled following those two homers. 3-2 Phillies.

In the bottom of the fifth, Danny Espinosa went yard to tie the game at three, and in the sixth, Laynce Nix gave the Nats a 4-3 lead after another home run to right field.

Placido Polanco started a rally in the seventh starting with a single, followed by Chase Utley drawing a walk. Ryan Howard singled to score Polly, tying the game up at four. Ibanez lined out to score Utley, and Ruiz singled to continue the rally, but that's all the Phils would get, 5-4 game.

Halladay pitched seven allowing four runs off of 10 hits, walking none and striking out five. Just another koala-tea start, in which he would take the win.

Young, flithy Antonio Bastardo and Jose Contreras pitched a scoreless eighth, and Ryan Madson closed it out striking out two and saving his 12th game. Phillies win, 5-4.

Game two tomorrow, Cliff Lee (4-4, 3.50 ERA) against Jason Marquis (5-2, 4.26 ERA.)