Walks, hit batters create problems for Gonzalez, Nats (Phillies win 4-1)

PHILADELPHIA - Center fielder Michael A. Taylor wasted no time putting the Nationals on the scoreboard with a leadoff homer against Phillies starter Jerome Williams. It's Taylor's first bomb of the year, coming off a spring where he led the Nats in home runs with four, two of which came to start games.

Taylor's homer lifts his early average to .357 with a double and three RBIs.

Right fielder Bryce Harper and catcher Wilson Ramos also singled in the first leaving the Nats with runners at the corners and two outs. The Nats have struggled in early run-producing situations through the first three games and nothing changed tonight as shortstop Ian Desmond flew out to left to end the threat.

Lefty Gio Gonzalez allowed a leadoff single to Phillies center fielder Ben Revere but then picked him off moments later. Gonzalez also delivered two walks to the Phillies but was able to work out of the jam.

Update: Gonzalez settled down and retired the Phillies in order in the second. He struck out Williams and Revere to start the third before shortstop Freddy Galvis doubled down the right field line. Gonzalez came right back to get second baseman Chase Utley swinging to strike out the side.

Gonzalez has allowed three hits with two walks and three strikeouts through four innings.

Nationals manager Matt Williams came out of the dugout in the fourth after Desmond was thrown out at second trying to stretch the ball he hit to the left-center field gap into a double. Williams seemed to be stalling for a replay while he briefly talked to umpire Jerry Lane. He eventually retreated back to the bench and Dan Uggla struck out moments later leaving first baseman Ryan Zimmerman stranded at third.

Update II: After getting Phillies right fielder Jeff Francoeur to fly out to start the seventh, Gonzalez loaded the bases on back-to-back walks and a hit batter. That ended his night as Williams called on the lefty Xavier Cedeno out of the bullpen.

Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg sent infielder Cesar Hernandez in to pinch hit and he promptly delivered a base knock to right field on Cedeno's first offering that plated two. Cedeno's short stay on the mound ended one batter later when he hit Revere despite having him down 1-2 in the count.

It didn't get any better when right-hander Craig Stammen jogged to the mound. Galvis hit a run-scoring single and Utley added a sacrafice fly. When the dust settled, four Phillies had crossed the plate on just two hits in the inning.

Gonzalez was charged with three earned runs on five hits with four walks, one hit batter and four strikeouts,

Third baseman Yunel Escobar hit a two-out double in the 8th but Harper followed with his third strikeout of the night. He has now had the unfortunate hat trick in back-to-back games.

Final: This is one the Nationals would like to have back. After cruising through the first six innings Friday night, the Nationals stumbled in the seventh, allowing the Phillies to grab four runs, the lead and ultimately the 4-1 victory. Gonzalez, who had spent the previous six innings unscathed, saw the wheels fall off the track in the bottom half of the seventh. After loading the bases, Gonzalez wasn't able to get out of the inning and finished with 6 1/3 innings, allowing three earned runs on five hits and four walks. It looks like a rather vanilla stat line for the left-hander, but the outing was clearly skewed by that pesky seventh frame in an otherwise solid performance.

The Nats' offense, meanwhile, continues to search for answers early in the season. Six different Nationals players tallied hits, but no player had more than one and, with the exception of a leadoff homer from Taylor to start the game, the offense was held in check. With the loss, the Nationals fall to 1-3 on the season, while the Phillies hit .500 at 2-2. Washington has scored seven runs in those four games.