Strasburg leads Nats to 3-2 win in Game 1 of doubleheader

PHILADELPHIA - Bryce Harper wasted no time testing his hamstrings out after belting a two-out double down the right field line in the first. Wilson Ramos ended up stranding Harper to close out the frame.

Stephen Strasburg struck out Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard to end a 14-pitch scoreless first inning. But in the second, Jeff Francoeur jumped all over Strasburg, rocking a 95 mph fastball deep into the seats in left for a solo homer.

Update: Denard Span ripped a one-out double in the fifth and was able to continue to third when Francoeur simply lost the ball while trying to throw it back in. Moments later, Span raced to the plate, sliding in safely after tagging on Danny Espinosa's sacrifice fly.

Strasburg is cruising through five innings with Francoeur's homer the only blemish. He fanned the side in the fifth and has seven strikeouts so far. He's thrown just 67 pitches to this point.

Update II: Phillies starter Kevin Correia walked Clint Robinson to start the sixth. Dan Uggla advanced Robinson on a single to left. And then Michael A. Taylor pulled a double down the line scoring Robinson to give the Nationals their first lead of the day.

That knocked Correia out of the game.

Uggla, who advanced to third on Taylor's hit, then scored when left-hander Jake Diekman's fastball got away from Cameron Rupp.

Update III: Strasburg gave up a two-out single to Maikel Franco and then walked Howard setting up Francoeur's RBI single to center to cut the Nats' lead in half.

Strasburg's day is done after seven strong innings. He allowed two runs on four hits with nine strikeouts and just one walk. Strasburg threw 113 pitches.

Update IV: Lefty Matt Thornton and right-hander David Carpenter threw a scoreless eighth inning as the Nationals head to the ninth clinging to a 3-2 lead over the Phillies.

Update V: Drew Storen pitched a perfect ninth for his 23rd save.

The Nationals beat the Phillies 3-2. They have now won eight in a row.