Scherzer, Ramos help Nationals sweep Phillies
PHILADELPHIA -- Wilson Ramos hit a three-run homer in support of Max Scherzer's eight-inning effort as the Washington Nationals drubbed the Philadelphia Phillies 7-2 on Wednesday night, completing a sweep of a three-game series.
Ramos, 3-for-4 in the game, drove in four runs in all. Danny Espinosa also homered and Ryan Zimmerman had two RBIs for the National League East-leading Nationals, who won their fourth straight.
Tyler Goeddel hit a two-run homer to account for Philadelphia's runs. The Phillies saw their season-worst losing streak reach six games. They also lost for the 10th time in their last 12 games to fall to 26-27, the first time they have been below the .500 mark since they were 9-10 on April 24.
Scherzer (6-4) allowed two runs and five hits while striking out 11 and walking two. It was the 39th double-figure strikeout game of his career, and his third this season. He fanned 20 against Detroit on May 11 to equal a major league record, and struck out 10 in a loss to the New York Mets his next time out, on May 17.
Philadelphia starter Adam Morgan (1-4) dropped his fourth straight start, going six innings and yielding six runs and nine hits while striking out six. He didn't walk a batter, but Ramos and Espinosa both homered off him in Washington's four-run sixth inning.
Morgan hit Daniel Murphy on the right forearm with a pitch with two outs in the top of the first. After Murphy voiced his displeasure, Zimmerman followed with a double to right, chasing in the game's first run.
The Nats made it 2-0 in the fourth. Anthony Rendon led off with a double and scored on a single by Ramos.
Zimmerman and Anthony Rendon opened the sixth with singles, and Ramos followed by lining Morgan's 1-0 pitch into the seats in right field, his seventh homer of the season.
One out later Espinosa also hit his seventh of the year and his second in as many days, a solo shot that put the Nats up 6-0.
Murphy tripled off reliever Brett Oberholtzer and scored on Zimmerman's sacrifice fly in the seventh, and Goeddel made it 7-2 with his third homer of the season in the bottom of that inning.
NOTES: 1B Tommy Joseph was in the starting lineup for Philadelphia, and manager Pete Mackanin said before the game that Joseph will replace veteran 1B Ryan Howard for three or four days (and possibly longer, depending on how Joseph performs), so that Howard can clear his head a little bit. The 36-year-old Howard, in his 13th season, hit .101 in May and is at .154 overall. ... Nationals OF Bryce Harper was not in the lineup for the second straight game because of the bruised right knee incurred when he was hit by a pitch Monday. ... Philadelphia acquired INF-OF Jimmy Paredes from Toronto for cash considerations and designated INF Emmanuel Burriss for assignment.