Nats slug four homers, outlast Phillies 8-7 in 11 innings

PHILADELPHIA - Anthony Rendon belted the first pitch of the game from Phillies starter Aaron Nola over the left-center field wall. It was Rendon's second leadoff homer of his career and the eighth for the Nationals this season.

Update: Ryan Howard smoked a 2-1 fastball from Nats starter Jordan Zimmermann over the wall in right to tie the score in the second. It was the first hit allowed by Zimmermann.

Update II: Bryce Harper answered with a two-out solo homer to right in the third. It was Harper's 37th home run of the season, leaving him one behind Colorado's Nolan Arenado for the National League lead.

Update III: Cameron Rupp raced all the way around to score from second on a blistered infield single off Ian Desmond by Freddy Galvis in the third.

Update IV: Singles from Zimmermann, Yunel Escobar and Harper loaded the bases for Jayson Werth with two outs in the fifth. Nola left an 0-2 fastball over the plate and Werth unloaded on it, sending the ball high into the seats in left for his fifth career grand slam.

Update V: Zimmermann gave up a leadoff double to Brian Bogusevic in the sixth. After an Aarron Altherr single, Darnell Sweeney smoked a base hit to right, scoring Bogusevic.

Then Zimmermann missed on a fastball and Cody Asche crushed it to deep right-center field for a game-tying three-run homer.

Zimmermann has now surrendered 21 homers this season, the most in any single season in his career.

Nationals manager Matt Williams went to left-hander Matt Thornton to start the seventh.

Zimmermann allowed six runs on seven hits with one walk and eight strikeouts over six innings. He threw 94 pitches.

Update VI: Five Nats relievers have combined to throw three scoreless innings since Zimmermann departed.

Update VII: Werth gave the Nats the lead in the 10th with a rocket over the left-center field wall off Phillies right-hander Dalier Hinojosa.

Nationals closer Jonathan Papelbon is on for the 10th.

Update VIII: Papelbon blew his first save of the year, surrendering a leadoff homer to Galvis in the 10th.

Update IX: Danny Espinosa drew a leadoff walk in the 11th and then took second on a passed ball.

Rendon then reached on an infield single for his fourth hit of the night, giving the Nats runners at the corners with no outs.

Escobar hit a chopper at Phillies second baseman Andres Blanco and Espinosa charged home, sliding in safely as the Nats reclaimed the lead.

Right-hander Doug Fister is on for the first save opportunity of his major league career.

Update X: Fister picked up the first save of his career as the Nats beat the Phillies 8-7 in 11 innings.