Nationals 4, Phillies 2
Livan Hernandez cooled off baseball’s best team with 6 2/3 solid innings and added two RBIs as the visiting Washington Nationals beat the Philadelphia Phillies 4-2 on Friday.
Former Phillies’ right fielder Jayson Werth had an RBI groundout and Rick Ankiel drove in a run for the Nationals. Washington defeated Cole Hamels (13-7) for the first time in seven tries despite missing its top hitter – Michael Morse (elbow contusion).
Wilson Valdez and Hunter Pence had RBIs for Philadelphia, which had won 12 of 13 and entered the night 37 games above .500 for the first time since 1977.
The Phillies were handcuffed by Hernandez (7-11), who allowed one run and four hits. The veteran righthander was just as effective with his bat, adding an RBI single off the glove of shortstop Jimmy Rollins in the second and another in the sixth that made it 4-1.
Tyler Clippard retired all four hitters he faced before giving way to Drew Storen, who survived a shaky ninth. He allowed a sacrifice fly to Pence, but struck out Ryan Howard and retired Raul Ibanez on a pop out for his 31st save in 35 chances.
Nationals’ third baseman Ryan Zimmerman saw his 19-game hitting streak end. He went 0-for-2 with a pair of walks.