Nats' losing streak reaches nine with 8-4 loss, Zimmerman day-to-day
The Nationals matched their season long losing streak of nine games with tonight's 8-4 setback to the Phillies.
Not only did they lose the game, but they lost Ryan Zimmerman, for how long, we don't know. Zimmerman was hit on the right hand in the third inning and left before the team took the field in the fourth. He had x-rays taken and they came back negative. Zimmerman is listed as day-to-day with a right hand contusion.
John Lannan suffered his 11th loss, giving up eight runs, six earned, on nine hits, three walks, a hit batter, and a wild pitch. The Nationals committed three errors behind the young lefty.
Philadelphia got three runs in the second off Lannan. Jason Werth led-off with his 15th homer of the season to put the Phils up 1-0. Three batters later, Jimmy Rollins grounded out to score Eric Bruntlett. Zimmerman's throwing error on the Shane Victorino's grounder made it a 3-0 game.
The Nationals got one back in the home half of the inning when Kory Casto scored on a wild pitch. Casto doubled and advanced to third on a groundout before Kyle Kendrick uncorked the wild pitch.
Washington cut it to 3-2 in the third with 2-outs. Zimmerman scored on Jesus Flores' single. The RBI was Flores' team-leading 45th on the season.
It didn't take the Phillies long to get the two runs back. Kendrick struck out, but still made it to first when the ball got away from Flores and his throw to Casto at first was high, pulling him off the bag. Flores was charged with an error.
Rollins followed with his eighth long ball of the season and the Phils led 5-2. It was one of those rare occasions when a team gets four outs in one inning.
Philadelphia chased Lannan in the sixth, with three runs. With 2-outs, Rollins doubled and scored on Victorino's infield single. The ball went off Lannan to Ronnie Belliard at third, but his throw was wide and Casto dropped the ball, allowing Rollins to score.
Chase Utley singled to put runners on first and third. Ryan Howard and Pat Burrell delivered RBI singles to make it an 8-2 game and end Lannan's night.
Kyle Kendrick tossed 6 2/3 innings of seven hit, two-run ball to earn his ninth win of the season. The win was the Phillies fifth straight and gives them a one game lead on the idle Mets. The Marlins also won and remain 1 ½ back.
The Nationals mounted a mini-rally in the ninth, but obviously it wasn't nearly enough. After Pete Orr singled and pinch-hitter Felipe Lopez doubled, Willie Harris and Lastings Milledge both grounded out to score a run and make it a more respectable score; 8-4.
Postgame Notes
The nine consecutive losses matches their season long losing streak. After starting the season 3-0, Washington lost nine in a row from April 3-12.
The three errors committed are the most since they made three against the Twins on June 18th at Minnesota. They lost that game 11-2. It's the fourth time this season they made three or more in a game.
Pete Orr, starting in place of injured Cristian Guzman at shortstop, went 3-4 with a run scored. The three hits matched a career-high, the sixth time he's done that, and first since August 12, 2006 vs. Milwaukee.
The Nationals are the first team in the Majors to lose 70 games. They have have been swept in three straight series and welcome the Reds to town for a 3-game set beginning on Friday night.
Final Linescore
Phillies 8-11-0
Nationals 4-9-3
WP-Kendrick (9-5)
LP-Lannan (6-11)
HR-Werth (15), Rollins (8)
Pete McElroy's Live Gameblog
Lannan roughed up
John Lannan had a tough night. He escaped damage in the first, but gave up three runs in the second, only two of which were earned. Lannan gave up a 2-run blast to Jimmy Rollins in the fourth. Only one of those runs was earned. After an easy fifth and retiring the first two batters in the sixth, Lannan was pounded into submission, giving up three more runs and leaving with an 8-2 deficit.
5 2/3 IP, 9 H, 8 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 7 K, 2 HR, WP, HB. 104 pitches, 66 strikes.
Phillies scoring, 4th inning
Jimmy Rollins' 2-run homer gave the Phillies a three run lead. Kyle Kendrick struck out, but reached base on Jesus Flores' throwing error and he scored in front of Rollins' eighth long ball of the season.
Nationals scoring, 3rd inning
With 2-outs, Ryan Zimmerman was hit on the right hand. He left the game after scoring on Jesus Flores' single to left, making it a 3-2 game. Zimmerman was being x-rayed and no word on the extent of the injury.
Lannan thru 3 innings
Lannan pitched himself out of trouble in the first, got roughed up in the second and had an easy time in the third. Hopefully he continues they way he did in the third. His pitch count is a bit high, but not too crazy.
3 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, HB, HR. 57 pitches.
Nationals scoring, 2nd inning
Kory Casto scored on a wild pitch to cut the Phils lead to 3-1. Casto led-off with a double, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on the Kendrick's wild pitch.
Phillies scoring, 2nd inning
John Lannan got himself out of trouble in the first, but couldn't avoid it in the second.
Jason Werth led-off the inning with his 15th home run of the season to give the Phillies a 1-0 lead. After a single, wild pitch, single and sac bunt, Jimmy Rollins grounded out to score the Phils second run. Shane Victorino followed with a routine grounder to third, but Ryan Zimmerman bobbled the ball and his throw got away from Kory Casto, allowing the third run of the inning. Two fo the three runs were earned.
Starting Line-Ups
Phillies:
SS Jimmy Rollins
CF Shane Victorino
2B Chase Utley
1B Ryan Howard
LF Pat Burrell
RF Jason Werth
3B Eric Bruntlett
C Carlos Ruiz
P Kyle kendrick
Nationals:
LF Willie Harris
CF Lastings Milledge
3B Ryan Zimmerman
RF Austin Kearns
C Jesus Flores
1B Kory Casto
2B Ronnie Belliard
SS Pete Orr
P John Lannan
Game Preview
Philadelphia (58-49) at Nationals (38-69)
John Lannan, who is gunning for his third win in his last four starts, looks to end the Nationals eight-game losing streak, as Washington wraps up their three-game series with the Phillies.
With last night's 8-5 win, coupled with the Mets 7-5 loss at Florida, Philadelphia moves back into first place in the NL East, leading New York by a half game and the Marlins by one and a half.
The Nationals got a solo home run from Willie Harris and a 2-run shot by Jesus Flores to take a 3-2 lead after the first, but Tim Redding gave up five runs in the fifth and suffered the loss, his sixth of the season.
The trade deadline is 4:00 p.m. this afternoon. Check back for any moves the Nationals may or may not make.
Pitching Match-Up
LHP John Lannan (6-10, 3.33) has nine quality starts in his last 10 outings, but only two wins to show for it. In his last start on July 25th he gave up three runs on six hits in seven innings, but suffered the 3-2 loss.
Lannan's two previous games resulted in wins. He gave up one run in 12 innings combined and the Nationals backed him with 13 runs.
This is the ninth start at Nationals Park for the young lefty this season. Lannan is 2-5 with a 4.71 ERA. In his last start at home, he beat the Diamondbacks 5-0 on July 9th, tossing six scoreless innings and gave up only two hits.
Lannan is making his second career start against the Phillies. He was roughed up in his Major League debut just over a year ago at Citizens Bank Park. Lannan gave up five runs, four earned, on six hits, two walks and two hit batters in 4 1/3 innings.
Lannan and Manny Acta were ejected in the fifth when Lannan hit Chase Utley and Ryan Howard on consecutive pitches. Howard hit a 2-run homer off him in his previous at bat. The Nationals won 7-6 and Lannan received a no-decision.
RHP Kyle Kendrick (8-5, 4.70) is coming off a six-inning, one-run, seven-hit gem, but the bullpen let him down, handing him a no-decision in the Phillies 8-2 loss to the Braves and leaving him winless in his last four starts.
Kendrick, making his 12th start on the road, has a 5-2 record, but a 5.02 ERA and .311 batting average against outside of the City of Brotherly Love. His last road outing was brutal--he got pounded for seven runs on 10 hits in just 4 1/3 innings in a 9-5 loss at Florida. Three of the hits left Dolphin Stadium and accounted for six of the seven runs.
In three career starts vs. Washington, Kendrick is 0-1 with a 3.63 ERA, but the Phillies have won two of the three. The last time he faced the Nationals, last September at RFK Stadium, he tossed six innings of six hit ball. Kendrick allowed one unearned run in the Phillies 4-1 win. He didn't walk a batter and struck out six.
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