By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
Final: Nationals 3, Phillies 2 ❖ Attendance: 16,378
PHILADELPHIA — Behind eight strong innings on the mound by RHP Max Scherzer, the Washington Nationals (77-55) delivered the Philadelphia Phillies (60-72) their 23rd series defeat of the season Tuesday evening at Citizens Bank Park.
The Phillies' only produced runs against the 2013 American League Cy Young Award winner came with one out in the bottom of the seventh, as first baseman Ryan Howard launched his 20th home run of the season to left field, a two-run blast that pulled the Phillies within one.
In accomplishing such feat, Howard joins Hall of Fame third baseman Mike Schmidt (14) as the only players in franchise history to have 10 or more such seasons. The blast also put Howard into a three-way tie with Norm Cash and Jeff Kent for 73rd place on the all-time home runs list with 377.
The team failed to complete a late-inning comeback, however, with seven of their final eight batters failing to reach base. Nationals closer Mark Melancon successfully recorded his 37th save of the season in the ninth, which is third-best in the National League trailing only Jeurys Familia (42) and Kenley Jansen (39) of the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers, respectively.
The defeat secured the Phillies their eighth straight loss to the Nationals, which ties a franchise record previous set four times, the last being June 2, 1989 to July 5, 1989.
Scherzer started the night with five no-hit innings against Phillies batting. He had not allowed a baserunner until catcher Cameron Rupp worked a one-out walk in the bottom of the fifth. Shortstop Freddy Galvis then broke up the no-no as he began the sixth with a leadoff double, the first of two extra-base hits for Pete Mackanin's club on the night.
Phillies starter RHP Jerad Eickhoff tossed six innings of three-run baseball on five hits and three walks allowed spanning 97 pitches (60 strikes). In the first, he allowed a RBI double and single to right fielder Bryce Harper and catcher Wilson Ramos, respectively. Three innings later, he allowed a sacrifice to opposing pitcher Scherzer, which scored first baseman Ryan Zimmerman from third.
In suffering his 13th losing decision of the season, Eickhoff induced two ground balls and 11 fly balls. Scherzer is now 7-1 with a 2.35 ERA in 10 career starts against the Phillies.
The Phillies will look to avoid being swept for the seventh time this season on Wednesday as southpaws Gio Gonzalez and Adam Morgan face off. (Time: 7:05 p.m.; TV: CSN; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP).
