Zimmerman provides Scherzer with more insurance (Nats win 7-2)

For the third time in his many games, the Nationals have put runs on the scoreboard in the first inning. This time it was right fielder Bryce Harper smacking a massive three-run homer over the center field wall to give the Nats an early lead.

Two of Harper's team-leading three homers have come off Phillies starter Sean O'Sullivan.

Nats starter Max Scherzer surrendered two hits in the first, but was able to work of the inning with no problems. He breezed through the second, striking out first baseman Ryan Howard and left fielder Darin Ruf to end the inning.

Update: The Phillies got one back in the third when center fielder Odubel Herrera smoked a ball off the right field wall. Harper leaped, but couldn't come down with it and the ball caromed away for a triple. One batter later, shortstop Freddy Galvis grounded out, allowing Herrera to score unchallenged.

Nats second baseman Danny Espinosa blistered an offfering from O'Sullivan deep to center field to start the fouth. The solo shot was Espinosa's second of the season.

Third baseman Yunel Escobar has been removed from the game after grounding out to end the bottom of the fourth. Escobar grabbed his left groin as he crossed the bag and spoke with manager Matt Williams in the dugout during the break between halves. Espinosa moved from second to third and Dan Uggla is taking over at second.

Update II: Shortstop Ian Desmond's fielding woes continued in the seventh when he couldn't get the ball out of his glove on a routine grounder from Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz. The error was Desmond's seventh in 11 games this season.

Meanwhile, a couple of other Nats have flashed some serious leather tonight. First baseman Ryan Zimmerman made a spectacular diving catch in foul territory on a popped-up bunt from O'Sullivan in the fifth.

And in the sixth, Uggla robbed Galvis of a base hit by leaping fully entended to his left.

Scherzer has been impressive for the third straight start, allowing just the one run on four hits with nine strikeouts and no walks through seven innings.

Update III: Zimmerman slapped a two-run double down the right field line scoring Desmond and Harper with two outs in the seventh. Ramos followed with an infield single up the middle. When Phillies second baseman Chase Utley made the long throw to first, Zimmerman broke for the plate and slid in safely beating the tag from Ruiz.

Scherzer sent the Phillies down in order in the eighth to end his night on an even 100 pitches. He holds a 0.83 ERA after 21 2/3 innings this year and is in line to grab his first win in a Nationals uniform. It's the 10th time in his career Scherzer has struck out at least nine hitters without issuing a walk.

Lefty Felipe Rivero will make his major league debut in the ninth.

The Nationals lead the Phillies 7-1 in the ninth.

Update IV: It's a 7-2 Nats win, their third straight. Rivero allowed a run on three hits in the ninth in his major league debut.