Nationals 4, Phillies 1
WASHINGTON -- Gio Gonzalez shook off his recent struggles to work into the seventh inning and help the Washington Nationals defeat the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 on Sunday afternoon.
Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper had two hits, two RBIs and a key outfield assist, and center fielder Denard Span doubled twice and scored a run as Washington took the series rubber game and won for the seventh time in its last eight games.
Phillies right-hander Aaron Harang took his second loss in May despite making his career-high ninth consecutive quality start.
Gonzalez (4-2), the Nationals' only left-handed starter, had allowed 11 earned runs in his previous two starts (10 innings pitched). He was much better Sunday, allowing a run on seven hits and a walk over 6 1/3 innings, while striking out seven. He left with a 2-1 lead.
Closer Drew Storen worked the ninth for his 14th save.
Harang (4-4) saw his string of 17 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run halted when the Nationals tied it at 1-1 in the fourth, but allowed only two runs over six innings. He gave up seven hits, walked two and struck out two as the Phillies fell to their first series defeat in their last four series.
With one out in the seventh, Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera singled to chase Gonzalez. Catcher Cameron Rupp came up next and looped a ball into right field off reliever Aaron Barrett that dropped in. But Harper threw out the sliding Herrera on a force at second.
Righty reliever Matt Grace caught pinch-hitter Chase Utley looking to end the inning.
The Nationals scored twice more in the bottom half when Span led off with a double and scored on Harper's two-out single. Harper came in on first baseman Ryan Zimmerman's double to make it 4-1.
The Nationals took a 2-1 lead in the fifth when third baseman Yunel Escobar tripled to the gap in right-center and scored on Harper's grounder to short.
It was Escobar's first triple since 2013.
Gonzalez started well, inducing the Phillies into inning-ending double plays in the first and second innings before striking out the side in the third.
But the Phillies took a 1-0 lead in the fourth when shortstop Freddy Galvis singled, reached second on first baseman Darin Ruf's walk, and scored on right fielder Jeff Francoeur's single into left field.
The Nationals tied it in the bottom half. Left fielder Clint Robinson smacked a leadoff double into right-center and scored on catcher Jose Lobaton's single up the middle.
Harang then walked second baseman Danny Espinosa and Gonzalez bunted the runners to second and third. But Harang worked out of it, getting Span and shortstop Ian Desmond to ground out.
The Nationals had two on in the first and the third, but Zimmerman struck out and then chopped one back to Harang to end both threats.
NOTES: Rookie RHP Severino Gonzalez (2-1, 7.11 ERA) will make his fourth career start Monday as the Phillies begin a three-game series against the New York Mets. The 22-year-old is coming off his best performance in the majors, allowing one run over five innings in a 4-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies last Wednesday. ... RHP Tanner Roark (0-2, 2.66 ERA) will make his first start of 2015 Monday as the Nationals begin a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs -- part of a six-game road trip. Roark, who has pitched in middle and late relief for the Nationals this season, steps into the rotation spot of RHP Doug Fister, who was placed on the disabled list (forearm) on May 15. Roark went 15-10 with a 2.85 ERA in 31 starts last season. ... The Nationals promoted RHP Taylor Jordan from Triple-A Syracuse ahead of Sunday's game to fill a need at long relief. Jordan was 1-2 with a 2.14 ERA in seven starts with Syracuse this year. Washington optioned RHP A.J. Cole to Syracuse in a corresponding move. ... Phillies RF Jeff Francoeur returned to the starting lineup Sunday after failing to appear in the first two games of the series. Francoeur has batted .500 in eight pinch-hit at-bats this season, but just .205 in 88 at-bats as a right fielder.