Nationals 5, Phillies 1
Gio Gonzalez tossed seven solid innings and visiting Washington belted back-to-back homers to lead off the fifth and sixth frames as the Nationals handed Cliff Lee his first loss since May 1.
Anthony Rendon and Wilson Ramos went deep before Ryan Zimmerman and former Phillie Jayson Werth followed suit to stake Washington to a 4-0 advantage. Rendon also scored on Philadelphia's second error of the ninth inning as the Nationals pulled within five games of NL East-leading Atlanta, which suffered a 6-2 setback to Miami on Wednesday afternoon.
After matching a career high with 11 strikeouts in his last appearance against Philadelphia on June 19, Gonzalez (7-3) didn't miss a beat en route to his fourth win in as many starts. The 27-year-old left-hander allowed a two-out homer to Darin Ruf in the seventh before exiting after a six-hit, five-strikeout performance.
Gonzalez and Lee traded zeroes before Rendon deposited a 1-2 fastball off a fan's face in the first row over the left-field wall. Ramos followed with his fourth homer after jumping on another fastball and sending it over the wall in right.
Lee (10-3) settled down to work his way out of the fifth before Zimmerman drilled an 0-2 fastball over the wall in left-center for his 11th homer. Werth launched the next pitch deep into the left-field stands to bring about a chorus of boos at Citizens Bank Park.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Former Phillies C Darren Daulton has been diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. The 51-year-old Daulton, who played with the Phillies in 1983 and from 1985-97, underwent brain surgery earlier this month. ... Lee had allowed nine homers in 135 2/3 innings before yielding four in an eight-batter stretch. The veteran, who surrendered four runs on nine hits in seven innings, tasted defeat for the first time since yielding five runs over six innings in a 6-0 setback to Cleveland. ... Philadelphia 1B Ryan Howard underwent successful surgery Wednesday to repair a tear in his left knee. The 2006 NL MVP is expected to be sidelined 6-to-8 weeks.