Nats score five runs in first (Nats win 9-1)

PHILADELPHIA -- The Nationals greeted Phillies starter Jeremy Hellickson rudely in the first inning.

Apparently, Michael A. Taylor took full advantage of his day off.

Taylor crushed a solo shot well over the left field wall off a 1-0 pitch and the Nationals jumped out to a 1-0 lead.

Anthony Rendon lined out to third baseman Makiel Franco, who was protecting himself by making the waist-high catch. Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman hit sharp singles and Daniel Murphy walked to load the bases.

Former Phillies outfielder Jayson Werth slammed a three-run double off the center field wall for a 4-0 Nationals lead. Just Like Taylor, Werth returned with a huge first at-bat following a day off.

Danny Espinosa added an RBI single and Joe Ross followed with the first double of his career.

The Nationals pounded out six hits in the inning, including three extra-base hits, and 10 men came to the plate. Hellickson had allowed six hits in his first two starts combined.

Update: The Nationals added another run in the third thanks to another double from Werth. Wilson Ramos followed with ground ball to third that was msiplayed by Franco. Left fielder Cedric Hunter was slow to field the ball. The error and Hunter's misplay allowed Werth to score for a 6-0 Nats lead.

WIth Ramos on first and two outs, Espinosa was called out on a 4-6-3 double play. The Nationals challenged the ruling and the call was overturned. The Phillies then challenged that Ramos was out of base path on his slide into second, employing the new slide rule. The replay review determined there was no slide rule violation. The cumulative delay for both reviews was 1 minute, 55 seconds.

Ross has allowed only one hit and struck out two in his first two innings.

Update II: Murphy doubled to lead off the fifth. With two outs, Espinosa singled to left to score Murphy, but was caught in rundown to end the inning. The Nationals lead 7-0 and have 10 hits through four and a half innings. Ross has given up two hits and no runs through four frames.

Update III: Harper blasted a two-run homer over the right field wall in the sixth. It's his fourth homer of the season. The Nationals cruising 9-0.

Update IV: Ross went 7 2/3 innings, allowing no runs on three hits with two walks and five strikeouts. He fired 107 pitches, 71 for strikes. He earns the win to improve 2-0.

Ryan Howard hit a solo homer off of Yusmeiro Petit in the ninth to ruin the shutout.

The nine runs and 16 hits are season-high totals.

The 8-1 start is the best in franchise history.