Williams discusses Nats' 10-4 loss to Phillies

The Phillies pounded out 17 hits and pushed across 10 runs. The Nationals made three errors and allowed three stolen bases.

This game could have been closer than the final six-run deficit had the Nats cashed in on opportunities and played a little cleaner.

williams

Instead, the Phillies cruised to a 10-4 win in the opener of this four-game series.

Gio Gonzalez allowed five runs in just 3 2/3 innings, and even though Cliff Lee went just 2 2/3 before leaving with a left flexor pronator strain, the Phillies bullpen did enough to keep the Nats at bay.

Here's manager Matt Williams after the loss:

On whether the Nats had some chances to make it a game despite the wide final margin: "Of course. They put 17 hits on the board, too. It's just one of those nights where things just didn't go right. We had some chances in the mid innings there to get back into it, but that's just the way things go sometimes."

On what was lacking with Gonzalez tonight: "I don't know. He threw strikes, but he got behind a little bit. They took some good swings on him. Hit the fastball tonight. Just didn't have it. Not as good as the last time out."

On Gonzalez moving his left arm around a lot in between pitches: "Yeah, he just does that. He talks to himself sometimes when his mechanics aren't right. But he's fine. There's no issue with his shoulder or anything like that. He's just off."

On Danny Espinosa's fourth-inning throw home being late, allowing Grady Sizemore to score: "Our philosophy - which I'm sure is their philosophy, too - with one out, they're going to play contact. And the pace of the ball will often dictate what you do with it. So it wasn't hit very hard, it was kind of a high chopper. The hindsight play is to go to first base and give them that run, but we're playing the infield in to cut down that run on a regular-paced hit ground ball. It was just a little slow for him to get him at the plate. But they're going on contact there on the ground ball."

On not being able to capitalize on Lee leaving the game early: "It happens that way sometimes. Just because a starter gets out, doesn't mean you're gonna win. They did a good job of putting 17 hits on the board. They swung the bats well. They were swinging it well coming in. They got us tonight, but we've got to do a better job tomorrow."