Phillies edge Nationals to take series
Aug 26, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Freddy Galvis (13) is congratulated by starting pitcher Cole Hamels (35) after hitting a two run home run during the fifth inning of a game against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
The landscape of the National League East hardly changed Tuesday night, but the last place Philadelphia Phillies did beat the division-leading Washington Nationals by one run for the second game in a row.
Starting pitcher Cole Hamels kept the prolific Nationals’ offense in check for the most part before allowing a game-tying home run off the bat of Asdrubal Cabrera in the eighth inning. The Phillies ace got into hot water in the seventh after allowing a pair of RBI singles, but managed to escape a bases loaded situation while giving up only two runs. Hamels allowed eight hits in the game and struck out five. The southpaw was also keen to Ian Desmond on the base paths as the Nationals’ shortstop was retired trying to steal second.
Gio Gonzalez, like Hamels, was recording outs quickly out of the gate as offense did not arrive for either team until the fifth inning. Gonzalez allowed three runs on six hits in a game that only went two hours and 24 minutes.
Freddy Galvis, who started in place of Cody Asche at third base, delivered the ninth home run of his career in the fifth. The two-run shot put his batting average at .085 in just 18 games with the Phillies this season.
Darin Ruf, who has recently seen a bit more playing time, played first base and had a 2-for-3 night with a solo home run.
In the bottom of the eighth, Carlos Ruiz‘s sacrifice flyout scored Ben Revere to make it the final score of 4-3.
Ken Giles was impressive yet again, earning the win to move to 3-1. He pitched a perfect eighth after Hamels allowed the game-tying homer, striking out all three batters he faced. Of the 13 pitches he threw, nine were for strike. Giles owns a 1.38 ERA in 32.2 innings this season.
In picking up his 33rd save in 2014, Jonathan Papelbon needed just nine pitches two retire the side in the ninth.