Phillies Run Past Nats to End Losing Skid

3. 90. 4. 6. Final

The Phillies got another solid outing from starting pitcher Aaron Harang, and used some speed and timely hitting to put an end to their 6-game losing skid in a 5-3 victory over host Washington on a beautiful afternoon at Nationals Park.

Harang lasted 6 innings, scattering 7 hits with a 6-2 K:BB ratio, allowing 3 earned runs. He left for a 7th inning pinch-hitter with the game knotted at 3-3. For the Nationals, starter Jordan Zimmermann took the loss despite allowing just 4 hits across 6.1 innings. He was largely done in by 4 walks, and by the Phillies speed.

The Nats quickly jumped out on top against Harang when the first two batters of the game, Michael Taylor and Ian Desmond, each singled. After Bryce Harper grounded into a force out at 2nd, moving Taylor up to 3rd, Ryan Zimmerman grounded out to 1st base, scoring Taylor with the game’s first run.

The Phils then took the lead in the top of the 3rd when Harang reached on a one-out error by Desmond on a play that the Phillies won a challenge. Odubel Herrera then stayed hot with a double to left, his 2nd hit of the game. When Freddy Galvis followed with a single, Harang scored to tie it at 1-1. Chase Utley then grounded to 2nd, scoring Herrera and putting the Phils up 2-1.

Washington tied it back up with a solo run in the home half of the 4th inning on an rbi single off the bat of catcher Jose Lobaton, scoring left fielder Clint Robinson.

More from That Balls Outta Here

Apr 18, 2015; Washington, DC, USA;

Washington Nationals right fielder Harper (34) rounds the base after hitting a mammoth solo home run during the fifth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Nationals Park

. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

In the top of the 5th, Herrera created yet another run. He started it with a 2-out walk, stole 2nd base, and came home with the go-ahead run on another Galvis single. The lead again didn’t last long. With one-out in the bottom of the 5th, Harper crushed a Harang heater well over the center field wall. The solo homer, his 4th of the year, tied the game at 3-3.

The tie held until the top of the 7th, when Howard led off by drawing a walk. He was replaced by a pinch-runner, Ben Revere, who promptly stole 2nd base. Revere then moved up on a liner to right field, and that was all for Jordan Zimmermann.

With lefty Matt Thornton on for the Nats, Revere scored on a grounder to 1st by Grady Sizemore to give the Phillies a 4-3 lead. In the top of the 9th, the Phils stretched it out against Nats reliever Blake Treinen. Revere led off with a double into the right-center gap, and scored on a ground out by Herrera to make it 5-3.

At that point, the game was halted for 10 minutes on a freak play. Herrera took off for 2nd, eventually stealing his 2nd bag of the afternoon. Nationals catcher Lobaton came up out of his crouch, but must have taken his eye off the pitch a bit. The high fastball sailed right past his glove, crashing directly into the mask of home plate umpire Brian Knight. Knight had to leave the game, and crew chief Larry Vanover needed the time to don the gear, taking over behind the dish.

The Phils turned the game over to their late inning shutdown combo of Ken Giles and Jonathan Papelbon. Giles allowed a single, struck out a batter, and got the game to Paps, who mowed down the Nationals 1-2-3 in the 9th for his 3rd Save of the season. Thus, the Phillies 6-game losing skid came to an end, and the club won its first road game of the year.

Home/Phillies News