Posted by Danielle Wilson
Roy Halladay against the Nationals, sounds like a win already, doesn't it? An extra gift to the Phillies' lineup: John Lannan starting for the Nats.
The Phillies did some damage early, starting in the third inning. Shane Victorino gave the Phils a 2-0 lead with a 2-run homer to left field, his fifth of the year. After Placido Polanco singled, and Ryan Howard walked, John Mayberry Jr. doubled and scored Polly. Raul Ibanez doubled and scored Ryan and John, giving the Phillies a 6-0 lead. The first time this season that the Phils scored more than five runs in one inning.
In the fourth inning, Wilson Ramos singled and scored Jayson Werth, so there goes the shutout for Doc. Ian Desmond popped up a sacrifice fly to score Adam LaRoche with the bases loaded, but that's all that the Nationals could do.
Raul Ibanez absolutely murdered a baseball in the fifth inning, a 431-foot solo shot to right field. First row in the second deck, no complaints here, 7-2 Phillies.
After seven innings, Doc was finished. His line: 10 strikeouts, six hits, two earned runs, and no walks.
Young, filthy Antonio Bastardo got into some trouble in the eighth. With runners on the corners, he allowed a sacrifice fly to Jayson Werth, 7-3 Phillies.
Ryan Madson came in for the ninth and pitched a 1-2-3 inning, completing the sweep, and helping improve the Phillies' record to 21-9, a National League best, and tied with the Cleveland Indians for best in the majors.
