Gonzalez, Harper lead Nats to 4-1 win

After three scoreless innings, the Nationals and Phillies both lit up the scoreboard in the fourth.

With one out, Phillies shortstop Freddy Galvis reached on an infield single. Ian Desmond made a lunging stop on Galvis' sharp grounder and then twirled to throw but it was too high for Ryan Zimmerman. Nats starter Gio Gonzalez then walked first baseman Darin Ruf to move Galvis into scoring position. Right fielder Jeff Francoeur took advantage with a line drive single to left, plating Galvis for the game's first run.

The Nats answered in the bottom of the inning. Clint Robinson roped a double to the gap in right-center. Jose Lobaton followed with a base knock up the middle, and the 6-foot-5, 225-lb. Robinson lumbered home to tie the game.

Gonzalez has allowed one run on four hits with one walk and five strikeouts through four innings.

Update: Yunel Escobar led off the fifth with his first triple of the season. Bryce Harper wasted no time scoring Escobar with a groundout to Galvis.

Gonzalez is through six innings with his pitch count at 84.

Update II: Gonzalez left with one out in the seventh after giving up a single to Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera. Nationals manager Matt Williams called on right-hander Aaron Barrett to face catcher Cameron Rupp. Rupp delivered what appeared to be a base knock to right field but Harper grabbed the soft liner on one hop and threw a bullet to Desmond, who was covering second base, to nail Herrera, who had to hold up briefly.

Williams turned to lefty Matt Grace to face pinch-hitter Chase Utley. Grace made quick work of Utley, ending the inning with a strikeout.

Gonzalez allowed one run on seven hits with one walk and seven strikeouts.

Denard Span started the seventh with a double to right-center. Desmond moved him to third with a sacrifice bunt. Two batters later, Harper dropped a single down the left field line, plating Span. Zimmerman then smashed a double off the wall in right-center scoring Harper all the way from first base.

Harper has two RBIs on the day, giving him 41 for the season in 44 games.

Update III: Right-hander Casey Janssen made his second appearance of the season, finishing off the last two outs of the eighth.

Closer Drew Storen gave up a one-out double to pinch-hitter Grady Sizemore in the ninth but then shut the door to claim his 14th save.

The Nats beat the Phillies 4-1 to win their eighth straight series.