Escobar and Taylor go deep in Nats' 5-2 win

Third baseman Yunel Escobar wasted no time getting the Nationals on the scoreboard as he launched the first offering from Phillies starter Cole Hamels deep over the center field wall for a solo homer. It was Escobar's first home run this season and his fifth to start a game in his career.

Moments earlier, Escobar made a spectacular over-the-shoulder, basket-style catch on a foul pop-up from Phillies shortstop Freddy Galvis. It was one of two stellar defensive plays to help starter Doug Fister in the first as left fielder Jayson Werth ended the inning with a sliding catch on a tailing liner off the bat of second baseman Chase Utley.

Update: Galvis tagged Fister for an RBI triple in the third to tie the game. After Hamels reached on a fielder's choice, Galvis roped a ball to the wall that right fielder Bryce Harper wasn't able to come down with despite appearing to be in position.

Update II: Fister gave up a dreaded leadoff walk to right fielder Jeff Fracoeur to start the fourth and it would cost him. Two batters later, catcher Carlos Ruiz lined a ball to straight-away center that Michael A. Taylor drifted back on and then simply dropped. Fister served up an intentional walk to first baseman Ryan Howard which loaded the bases with one out. Left fielder Darin Ruf followed with a sacrafice fly to center to score Francoeur and give the Phillies the lead.

Hamels also hurts himself in the fourth by walking Harper and then committing a balk that moved him into scoring position. A couple batters later catcher Wilson Ramos responded with a two-out single to center, plating Harper to again even up the score. For Ramos, it was his team-leading eighth RBI of the season.

Update III: Taylor responded with a leadoff homer in the fifth to push the Nats back in front. The rookie now leads the team in total bases with 22 and is tied for most homers on the team (2) and most RBIs (8). He's 5-for-10 with a homer, triple, double and five RBIs since moving out of the top spot in the order.

Update IV: The Nats put runs on the board for the third consecutive inning against Hamels in the sixth. Werth got things going with a stand-up double on a laser that rolled all the way to the wall in center. Hamels then walked Harper for the second time. First baseman Ryan Zimmerman followed with a slicing liner to the right field corner. Harper chased Werth down around second base and ran straight through third base coach Bob Henley's stop sign as they both scored easily.

After getting the first two outs in the seventh, Fister couldn't complete the inning. He gave up a single to outfielder Grady Sizemore and then back-to-back walks to center fielder Odubel Herrera and Galvis before Nationals manager Matt Williams yanked him for lefty Matt Thornton. Thornton quickly got out of the jam as Utley lined out to Taylor.

Fister allowed two runs, one earned, on four hits with four walks and four strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.

Update V: Closer Drew Storen picked up his third save as the Nats won 5-2 improving their record to 4-6.