Recap: Washington vs. Philadelphia
Sports Network | September 02, 2008
Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Cole Hamels snapped baseball's most shocking winning streak of the season, blanking the Nationals into the eighth inning and keeping the Phillies close in the National League East race with a 4-0 victory on Tuesday night. Hamels (12-8) mixed his trademark change-up with a solid fastball and improved curveball to frustrate Washington hitters over 7 1/3 frames. His 106-pitch effort put an end to Washington's seven-game winning streak, which still left it as baseball's worst team by percentage points entering play Tuesday. He gave up a walk and hit before exiting in the eighth. J.C. Romero and Chad Durbin navigated the stormy seas to record the final two outs of the frame. Jimmy Rollins continued his hot play of late with two hits, two runs batted in and a run scored for the Phillies, winners in three of four. Philadelphia entered the game two games behind the New York Mets in the division race. The Mets are currently playing in Milwaukee. John Lannan (8-13) was hit with the loss after giving up two runs on five hits over six frames. Lannan's lack of run support continues to be the story of his bittersweet campaign, as the left-hander has 13 losses despite a 3.88 earned run average. The game's momentum changed in the bottom of the second. Ronnie Belliard singled and likely would have scored if Elijah Dukes' gapper hadn't bounced over the fence for a ground-rule double. Jesus Flores then lofted a shallow fly ball to center, where Shane Victorino dived for a catch and quickly tossed to second base for the double play on Dukes. Belliard didn't tag on the play and was subsequently stranded. Philadelphia scored a pair of runs in the top of the third. Pedro Feliz singled and was erased on Carlos Ruiz's force out prior to Hamels' sacrifice bunt. Rollins followed with a two-out, run-scoring single, moved to second on the throw home and scored himself on Chase Utley's base hit. Later in the frame, with Jayson Werth on first and Utley on third, the second baseman tried to score on Lannan's pickoff throw to first. The relay home was in time for the out as Utley's shoulder drove into Flores' ankle and knee. The catcher stayed on the ground for several minutes before a stretcher and ambulance appeared near home plate. He was diagnosed with an ankle sprain after an x-ray showed no structural damage. An MRI is still slated for Wednesday. With Hamels cruising along, the Phillies added two insurance runs in the seventh. Feliz and Ruiz each singled before Hamels moved both runners up with a grounder to third. Rollins then drove one of the runners in with a base hit to right, and stayed in a rundown long enough for Ruiz to score another run with two outs later in the frame. Game Notes Hamels is 3-0 in his last five starts...The Phillies have won nine of the 14 meetings with Washington this season with a 6-2 mark as the visitor...The Phillies are 37-34 away from Citizens Bank Park this season...The Nats made a host of roster moves prior to the contest. They recalled pitchers Tyler Clippard, Mike O'Connor and Ryan Wagner, while placing outfielder Justin Maxwell (right wrist) on the disabled list. Game Notes Hamels is 3-0 in his last five starts...The Phillies have won nine of the 14 meetings with Washington this season with a 6-2 mark as the visitor...The Phillies are 37-34 away from Citizens Bank Park this season...The Nats made a host of roster moves prior to the contest. They recalled pitchers Tyler Clippard, Mike O'Connor and Ryan Wagner, while placing outfielder Justin Maxwell (right wrist) on the disabled list.
