Werth's two-run single helps Nats walk off Phillies 5-4

By Byron Kerr

Nationals

June 12, 2016, 3:07pm

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Former Phillies helped mold the outcome of Sunday's Nationals game against Philadelphia.

One giveth, and one taketh away.

The Phillies certainly know how to get to ex-teammate Jonathan Papelbon.

On April 17 in Philadelphia, Papelbon allowed a game ending walk-off double by Freddy Galvis in a 10-inning 3-2 comeback victory for his former team.

On Sunday in D.C., with the game tied at 3-3 in the top of the ninth, Maikel Franco slammed a solo homer, his 11th of the season, to put the Phillies ahead 4-3.

The Nationals had an answer in their final at-bat.

With one out in the bottom of the ninth against Phillies right-hander Jeanmar Gomez, pinch-hitter Bryce Harper singled to the right side and Danny Espinosa poked an opposite-field base knock to put two men on. But pinch-hitter Ben Revere flied out to left for the second out. Pinch-hitter Clint Robinson then walked to load the bases.

Another former Phillies star, Jayson Werth, then slapped a two-run single up the middle and the Nationals rocked Philadelphia 5-4, saving Papelbon from a third blown save.

The win marked a three-game sweep for the Nationals.

Right-hander Joe Ross got the early lead but was unable hold it against the Phillies. Up 3-0, Cody Asche drilled his first homer of the season in the fifth and the Nats' lead was 3-1.

Odubel Herrera's run-scoring double in the sixth cut the advantage to 3-2 Nats and Freddy Galvis followed with an opposite field single to tie the game at 3-3.

The Nationals pulled off an impressive 5-4-3 double play to end the sixth-inning rally by the Phillies and keep the game even. Ross bounced back for a 1-2-3 seventh inning.

And with the score tied and two outs in the bottom of the seventh, manager Dusty Baker elected to have Ross hit for himself. He singled to right center, but the Nats were unable to score in the inning.

The Nationals scored twice on a pair of sacrifice flies in the first inning against Adam Morgan. Danny Espinosa slammed a solo homer in the second for an early 3-0 lead.