Nats can't rally after Jackson's rough start, lose 5-4 to Phillies

With a chance to position themselves to clinch a division title Sunday, the Nationals put themselves in an early four-run hole tonight, clawed their way back to within a run of the Phillies but couldn't finish the job.

A 5-4 loss to the Phillies snapped the Nationals' five-game winning streak, and left it up to the Braves to try to beat the Marlins late and leave open the possibility of a Sunday clinch on South Capitol Street. Atlanta pulled it off with a walk-off walk in the bottom of the ninth, bringing the Nats' magic number down to two and setting the stage for a possible clinch Sunday.

The Nationals could have taken care of business themselves tonight without the help of anyone else. But they couldn't overcome Edwin Jackson's ragged start and then couldn't complete a rally against the Philadelphia bullpen.

Jackson has been consistently (and surprisingly) effective since joining the Nationals rotation in July, but those who have followed his career know it doesn't take much for things to fall apart on him. When he's off, he's off. And he was off tonight, despite a 1-2-3 top of the first that required only seven pitches (all strikes).

The Phillies got a pair of solo homers off Jackson in the top of the second, with rookie sensation Rhys Hoskins and the more seasoned Maikel Franco doing the honors. Jackson escaped damage in the third but only by striking out Odúbel Herrera with the bases loaded.

The fourth inning was the right-hander's final undoing. It included three singles, two walks and three more runs crossing the plate (though one of those came when reliever Sammy Solís forced it in via a bases-loaded walk).

Thus ended Jackson's unceremonious 34th birthday party. He lasted only 3 1/3 innings, the first time he failed to complete at least five frames with the Nationals.

The Nats didn't score their runs in bunches the way the Phillies did, but they did manage to chip away at what at one point was a four-run deficit and change the complexion of the game.

Howie Kendrick got it started in the bottom of the first, launching a solo homer into the left field bullpen against his former teammates. Michael A. Taylor took care of business after that.

One night after setting the ballpark abuzz with an inside-the-park grand slam, Taylor homered the old-fashioned way. He drove a two-run shot over the left field wall in the bottom of the fourth, trimming the deficit to 5-3. Two innings later, Taylor delivered a clutch, two-out RBI single to center, bringing the Nationals back to within a run.

Their bullpen held the deficit there, with Solís, A.J. Cole, Joe Blanton, Oliver Pérez and Matt Albers combining for 5 2/3 innings of scoreless ball. But their lineup couldn't find a way to push across the tying run despite several late opportunities.