Phils keep hits coming in Game 2 win vs. Nats
PHILADELPHIA -- The Phillies used Game 2 of Sunday's doubleheader against the Nationals to salvage a long day and a long weekend.
Philadelphia picked up 12 hits and scored eight runs in just 3 1/3 innings against Nationals right-hander Tanner Roark in the 8-5 victory at Citizens Bank Park to avoid a sweep. Eleven of those hits against Roark, who started after Saturday's game got cancelled because of rain, were singles. The Phillies tallied 16 hits overall, and just one went for extra bases.
"We had a nice ending to a long day," said Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin, who won his first game since replacing Ryne Sandberg. "We started with a [coaches] clinic this morning at 9:30, then had the doubleheader. None of them are easy to win, but that one was nice to win. It's good to get a win under our belt."
The Nationals picked away at the Phillies' lead with home runs from Ian Desmond and Jose Lobaton, but it was not enough to overcome the early deficit.
Video: WSH@PHI: Lobaton homers to second deck, fan buys ball
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Success at the top: The top of the Phillies' lineup had a nice evening. Odubel Herrera and Cesar Hernandez hit first and second, respectively. Herrera had three hits and Hernandez had four. Maikel Franco hit third, and he picked up two hits and three RBIs. Domonic Brown, who hit fourth, added two hits and drove in a run.
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Video: WSH@PHI: Hernandez collects four hits vs. Nats
Not in the cards for Roark: Roark was a last-minute starter for Game 2, and he had his worst outing of the year. The Phillies batted around in the second and fourth innings and scored four runs in each. Roark saw his ERA go from a respectable 3.25 to 4.34.
"He was up in the zone a little bit. The Phillies hit some balls that snuck through," manager Matt Williams said. "They did a nice job staying on the baseball, making contact and hitting it to the middle of the diamond." More >
Gonzalez tries, can't go deep: Phillies right-hander Severino Gonzalez, who got the start because of Saturday's rainout, had been unable to pitch more than five innings in his first five big league starts. He picked up an out in the sixth for a career high, but he could not finish the inning. The Phillies are hoping to see more from Gonzalez, who is the No. 14 prospect in the organization, according to MLBPipeline.com.
Video: WSH@PHI: Gonzalez strikes out seven over 5 1/3 frames
"He's got the potential to be a starter at this level," Mackanin said. "He's not an ace. I don't think he's a top-of-the-order starter, but he's definitely capable of pitching at this level." More >
Nats go down fighting: Down, 4-0, after two innings, the Nationals made it a one-run game in the top of the fourth. Desmond highlighted the scoring with a two-run homer off Gonzalez. After Philadelphia extended the lead to 8-3, Washington responded. Lobaton hit a solo homer and Michael Taylor scored on a single by Clint Robinson, who drove in two and scored a run.
Video: WSH@PHI: Robinson plates Taylor for his second RBI
"We kept fighting against a guy [Gonzalez] we didn't know," Williams said. "Desi had a big home run for us, which got us back in it. We had some opportunities, but not quite enough today."
QUOTABLE
"It will be addressed. We're going to talk about it, but I don't want to beat them up." -- Mackanin, asked if he had talked to his players about the team's sloppy play on defense in both games
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Franco had his 16th multihit game of the season, which is tied with San Francisco's Matt Duffy for second among National League rookies. Only Arizona's Yasmany Tomas (20) has more. Franco has 14 RBIs in seven games since June 21, which is second best among all big leaguers in that stretch. Only Colorado's Nolan Arenado (15) has more.
WHAT'S NEXT
Nationals: The Nationals have the day off on Monday and then start a three-game series against the Braves starting on Tuesday night. The last time these two teams met was last week at Nationals Park, when the Nationals swept the three-game set. Game time for the first game is at 7:10 p.m. ET, with Jordan Zimmermann set to make the start. He pitched eight scoreless innings vs. Atlanta on Wednesday.
Phillies: Sean O'Sullivan opens a four-game series Monday night at 7:05 p.m. ET against the Brewers at Citizens Bank Park. He is 1-5 with a 5.34 ERA this season. Cole Hamels, Aaron Harang and Adam Morgan also are scheduled to face the Brewers this week.
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