Phillies rough up Strasburg, Nats lose 8-1

Stephen Strasburg ran into difficulty in the third when he surrendered a one-out walk to Phillies left fielder Ben Revere. Shortstop Cesar Hernandez followed by slapping a double down the left field line that left the Phillies with runners at second and third. A groundout from second baseman Chase Utley scored Revere unchallenged. Then, first baseman Ryan Howard ripped an RBI double into the right field corner.

Strasburg looked to be in position to finally get out of the inning as he had the next batter, Maikel Franco, down 0-2. But Franco took full advantage of a 96 mph heater left out over the plate, depositing it into the seats in right center field at Nationals Park. The two-run shot is Franco's second career homer.

Strasburg has already thrown 58 pitches through three innings.

Dan Uggla led off the bottom of the third with an infield single. It's the lone hit of the day for the Nationals against Hamels so far.

Update: It didn't get any better for Strasburg in the fourth as center fielder Odubel Herrera doubled to lead off the inning. Two batters later, Hamels followed with a single to right. Harper came up throwing to the plate, and his throw skipped away from Wilson Ramos, allowing Hamels to take second. Harper was charged with his second error of the season on the play.

Ben Revere then smoked a single to left scoring Herrera, but Michael A. Taylor was able to gun down Hamels at the plate for the second out.

The final damage of the inning was done on a grounder by Hernandez that Ian Desmond couldn't come up with. Revere scored, and then Ramos botched the throw to the plate, allowing Hernandez to take third base. Both Desmond and Ramos were charged with errors on the play.

That ended Strasburg's afternoon after just 3 2/3 innings. He gave up six runs, five earned, on seven hits with one walk and three strikeouts. His ERA now stands at 6.50.

Right-hander A.J. Cole came out of the bullpen to finish the fourth. In the fifth, Howard blasted a solo homer off him.

The Phillies added another run in the sixth when Revere scored on what appeared to be a double by Hernandez. But, Hernandez missed first base on his way to second and was called out. He was still given an RBI on the play.

Uggla and Ryan Zimmerman both have infield singles, the only hits for the Nats against Hamels thus far.

Update II: The Nats grabbed their first run on an RBI double from Desmond in the eighth.

Right-hander Casey Janssen is set to make his Nationals and season debut in the top of the ninth.

Update III: Janssen pitched a perfect ninth in his debut.

Other than Harper slamming his bat to the ground after striking out, the Nats went quietly in the ninth.

The Phillies win 8-1, ending the Nats' six-game winning streak.

The Nationals will go for their eighth straight series win tomorrow with lefty Gio Gonzalez on the mound.