Phillies' hot start not enough to defeat Nationals

By: Matt Alberston, Contributor

Final: Nationals, Phillies 6 ❖ Attendance: 37,941

Washington, D.C. — The Phillies (29-31) arrived in Washington Friday evening to begin a weekend series against the N.L. East-leading Nationals (36-24). The Phillies' Jeremy Helickson (4-3, 3.80 ERA) opposed Nationals ace Stephen Strasburg (9-0, 2.85 ERA).

The scoring started early for the Phillies as they tallied four runs in the first three innings but were eventually shut down when Stephen Strasburg retired 14 batters in a row in 7 innings of work. The Nationals offense was quiet through the first two innings but they scored in the the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh innings, totaling 9 runs on 11 hits.

The Phillies were led offensively by first baseman Tommy Joseph who recorded his first multi-home run game of his career. Joseph went 2 for 4 and was the only Phillie to record multiple hits. Several players led the way for the Nationals as the club's offensive effort paved the way for Stephen Strasburg's tenth victory of the season.

WP: Stephen Strasburg (10-0, 3.03 ERA) ❖ LP: Jeremy Hellickson (4-4, 4.34 ERA) ❖ SV: Jonathan Papelbon (16)

Hub: Game Summary ❖ Starting Pitchers ❖ At the Plate ❖ Bullpen ❖ What's Next

Game Summary

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
PHI	0	2	2	0	0	0	0	2	0	6	6	0
WAS	0	0	2	2	2	1	2	0	X	9	11	0

The scoring started early, with the Phillies tallying the first runs of the ball game in the top of the second inning. Catcher Carlos Ruiz walked and advanced to second base when Freddy Galvis singled to right field. With two runners on base and one out, Cody Asche singled on a soft line drive while Ruiz scored from second. Next, Tyler Goeddel bunted for a base hit and scored Galvis. The Phillies nearly added one or two more runs on a sharp liner to left when National's shortstop Danny Espinosa stabbed the ball for the final out of the inning.

The Phillies continued to hit Strasburg well in the third inning when Cesar Hernandez singled to start the inning. Tommy Joseph lined a hanging slider over the left-center field wall for a two-run home run. The Phillies led the Nationals 4-0 after two and a half innings.

In the bottom of the third, Washington's offense woke up as both Danny Espinosa and Ben Revere singled. Jayson Werth lined a ball to left field, scoring Espinosa and Revere. After Bryce Harper walked, National League batting leader Daniel Murphy grounded into a double play to end the inning. The Phillies clung to a two run lead after three.

Washington continued to pressure offensively in the fourth inning when Wilson Ramos tattooed a ball deep over the center field wall. Stephen Drew followed with a home run of his own when he hit a Hellickson pitch into the front row in right field. Danny Espinosa strategically followed with a bunt-for-hit single, ensuring that the Nationals would, at the very least, begin the fifth inning with the top of the lineup leading off. Pitcher Stephen Strasburg then ground-bunted into a double play started by Carlos Ruiz. At the end of four, the Phillies and Nationals were tied at four runs a piece.

After a hot start in the first three innings, the Phillies offense cooled off. The Nationals, however, did not. Ben Revere singled to lead off the bottom of the fifth inning. After Werth flew out to center field, Bryce Harper walked which set the stage for Daniel Murphy. Coming into the night, Murphy was hitting .377/.426/.528 with one home run and 24 RBI with runners in scoring position. Murphy doubled sharply to right field while both Revere and Harper scored, giving the Nationals their first lead of the game. After two ground outs, the Nationals led after five innings 6-4.

Danny Espinosa added a home run in the sixth inning and in the seventh, Jayson Werth walked to lead off the inning. This signaled the de facto end of the night for Jeremy Hellickson, who went six innings, giving up seven earned runs on nine hits. Jimmy Paredes pinch hit for Hellickson in the 7th inning.

Luis Garcia, called up today from Tipple-A Lehigh Valley, entered the game in relief in the bottom of the seventh inning. After Bryce Harper flew out to center, Daniel Murphy doubled once again, scoring Jayson Werth and increasing Washington's lead to 8-4. Later in the inning, Wilson Ramos walked and later scored when Stephen Drew doubled to deep center. After seven innings, the division leading Nationals led the Phillies 9-4.

Felipe Rivero entered the game in relief of Strasburg at the beginning of the eighth inning with a comfortable 9-4 lead. Odubel Herrera walked to lead off the inning but Rivero struck out the next two batters when Tommy Joseph walked to the plate. Joseph, was 1 for 3 at this point, with one home run and two strike outs. Joseph, who made his major league debut earlier this season, clouted a 2-0 fastball deep into the left field seats, bringing the Phillies to within three runs. After seven and a half innings, the Nationals led the Phillies 9-6.

The Nationals did not add any runs to their total in the bottom of the eighth. Jonathan Papelbon appeared for the Nationals in the ninth inning and closed out the game for his 16th save of the season.

With the loss, the Phillies drop to 29-32 while the Nationals improve to 37-25.

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