Nationals shut down Phillies
PHILADELPHIA -- Tanner Roark combined with two relievers on a four-hit shutout as the Washington Nationals blanked the Philadelphia Phillies 4-0 on Monday night.
Jayson Werth homered for Washington, which ran its winning streak against Philadelphia to seven. The Nationals, however, won for just the third time in nine games overall.
The Phillies lost for the third time in four games and were shut out for the seventh time this season.
Roark, 5-1 in his last seven outings, went seven unblemished innings to improve to 14-7 this season. He allowed four hits while striking out five, walking one and hitting a batter.
Mark Rzepczynski retired all three hitters he faced in the eighth and Mark Melancon, working in a non-save situation, did the same in the ninth. It was the Nationals' 10th shutout of the season.
Phillies starter Jake Thompson (1-4) went seven innings, the longest of five outings the rookie has made in the major leagues this season. Thompson allowed two runs and seven hits while striking out three and walking one.
Werth hit a solo homer with one out in the first inning, launching Thompson's 2-1 slider into the seats in left field. It was the 19th homer of the season for the former Phillie.
Bryce Harper walked one out later and scored from first on a single by Anthony Rendon, making it 2-0.
Clint Robinson and Trea Turner added RBI singles off reliever Frank Herrmann in the ninth, giving Washington a 4-0 cushion.
NOTES: The Nationals recalled OF Michael A. Taylor from Triple-A Syracuse and optioned RHP Lucas Giolito to the same club prior to Monday's game. ... Phillies C A.J. Ellis, who was acquired in a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers last Thursday, delivered a tie-breaking two-run double in the seventh inning of his debut with the club Sunday, a 5-3 victory over the New York Mets. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, he is only the second major league player this season to deliver a game-winning RBI in the seventh inning or later in his first game for a team. The other was Washington 2B Daniel Murphy, who accomplished the feat on Opening Day in a 10-inning victory at Atlanta. ... Washington RHP Stephen Strasburg, on the disabled list since Aug. 21 with a sore right elbow, threw a bullpen session before the game, according to MLB.com. ... The announced crowd of 16,056 was the smallest of the season in Citizens Bank Park.