Gonzalez strong, but Nats drop finale 1-0

Phillies right-hander Roberto Hernandez is pitching more like Fausto Carmona circa 2010 than the guy who toted a 5.74 ERA into today's game against the Nationals at Citizens Bank Park.

Gio Gonzalez is doing his usual routine of holding the opposition in check, but trails 1-0 after three innings.

The Phillies took a 1-0 lead in the first when Jimmy Rollins tripled with one out and scored on Chase Utley's single to center.r.

The Nats had runners on first and second with one down in the third, but couldn't get the tying run across. Adam LaRoche flied out and Anthony Rendon struck out swinging to end the rally.

Update: Well, neither the score nor Gonzalez's mastery of the Phillies has changed. It's still 1-0 and the Phillies have managed only three hits off the Nats left-hander. Gonzalez has retired 11 of the last 12 hitters he's faced, but he needs the bats to wake up or he'll have nothing to show for the effort.

So far, he's walked two and fanned five. Gonzalez hit for himself in the seventh, so he's sticking around for a bit.

Update II: The Nats threatened in the eighth, when Denard Span led off with a single and went to second on Kevin Frandsen's sac bunt. Mike Adams replaced Hernandez and got Jayson Werth to bounce to first, with Span taking third. Antonio Bastardo relieved Adams and walked LaRoche, putting runners at the corners. Rendon took a called third strike to end the rally.

Update III: Gonzalez's day is done after 7 1/3 innings. He allowed a run on four hits, walked two and struck out seven.

Update IV: The Nats threatened in the ninth, when Sandy Leon shot a two-out single to right to bring pinch-hitter Zach Walters to the plate. Walters got behind 1-2 and lined a ball 10 feet to the foul side of the foul pole in right before Jonathan Papelbon got him swinging at a third strike.