Moore's homer cuts Phils' lead to 3-1 (Nats rally for 5-3 victory)

The Phillies took a quick 3-0 lead against Stephen Strasburg and the Nationals, with ex-Nat Marlon Byrd crushing a three-run homer in the first inning.

All three runs were unearned by virtue of an error charged to right fielder Jayson Werth, who couldn't come up with a foul pop off Byrd's bat in the tricky corner at Citizens Bank Park for the third out, prolonging the at-bat. It was a tough call to make on a tough play, and I wouldn't be surprised to see it changed at some point.

Tyler Moore's solo shot in the third off lefty Cliff Lee cut the lead to 3-1. Moore is now 5-for-10 with two homers, three doubles and four RBIs against Lee. Nats manager Matt Williams looks like a genius for playing the career numbers and inserting Moore into the lineup.

Update: Denard Span hit an RBI groundout in the fifth to trim the Phillies' lead to a run, but it was a verbal exchange between Span and Lee that highlighted the inning, causing benches and bullpens to briefly empty.

With runners on second and third and Span in the batter's box, Span tried to call time out and wasn't given time. Lee whizzed an inside pitch that almost caught Span for a strike. As Span was jogging back to the Nats dugout after grounding out, Lee said something that caught Span's attention. With home plate Jim Reynolds between the two, the benches emptied and relievers jogged in from the bullpen.

Order was quickly restored.

Update II: Strasburg's night is done after six innings, as he's been lifted for pinch-hitter Kevin Frandsen with two down in the seventh and the potential tying run at second base. Strasburg allowed six hits, three runs (none earned), walked one and struck out five.

Update III: Span led off the eighth with a double to right off Mike Adams, stole third when the Phillies didn't pay any attention to him and scored on Anthony Rendon's single to center.

Werth followed with a seeing-eye single up the middle, and Jim Diekman replaced Adams. LaRoche greeted Diekman with a line single to center to score Rendon for a 4-3 lead. Ian Desmond doubled in a run when Byrd dove and didn't come up with his sinking liner, making it 5-3 and closing the book on Adams.

After Espinosa and Moore struck out, Jose Lobaton drew a walk to load the bases and pinch-hitter Zach Walters fanned swinging. But the Nats are up 5-3 heading to the bottom of the eighth with Tyler Clippard coming on.

Update IV: Tyler Clippard worked out of a jam in the eighth, putting runners on first and second before getting out of the inning, and Rafael Soriano worked the ninth for his sixth save.