Fedde at a loss for lack of command in no-decision versus Phillies

The Nationals starter Erick Fedde battled to stay in the game Thursday, but his command was so off that the right-hander was unable to get through the fourth inning.

His bullpen and the Nationals offense helped him along as the club topped the Phillies 7-4.

Fedde lasted only 3 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on five hits with a season-high five walks and one strikeout. The 84 pitches thrown recorded only 11 outs.

The most eye-popping trend recently has been the 14 free passes allowed in his last five starts. That trend slammed into a wall Thursday when Fedde allowed five walks in the first 20 batters faced.

"At the moment I don't really have any answers," Fedde said. "It's just something that was a little bit embarrassing. I guess you know, go back to the drawing board tomorrow and start over and just get ready for the next one."

Fedde held on while the wheels started to come off in the fourth inning. He allowed a pair of singles and then an RBI single by Bryce Harper that cut the Nats advantage to 3-1. With Harper on base, Fedde walked Rhys Hoskins and Nationals manager Davey Martinez had to come get him.

"The defense behind me was amazing today," Fedde said. "Those guys really played their butt off. (Matt) Grace coming in and cleaning up my mess was nice. I guess if things are going to go like that, that's probably best case scenario but not really good playing with fire like that."

Fedde was referring to a run saving play by Trea Turner in the second that kept the Phillies off the board. Turner fired home to snag Scott Kingery attempting to score from third base to end the inning.

Fedde got a chance to face off against Harper, a player he went to high school with in Las Vegas. Harper went 1-for-3 against him with an RBI single and a strikeout.

"Yeah, it was different," Fedde said. "I don't think really seen him in the batter's box like that since high school. And the fact that he was leading off was pretty crazy. Definitely interesting moment but one that was I think fun.

"I really don't remember those (high school) times. He got me with the RBI so I guess he wins that battle."

During the start, Martinez noticed that Fedde was not moving along the start between pitches.

"His tempo," Martinez said. "When he was doing really good, he threw the ball, got back on the mound, threw it. Today it seemed he took an extra breath, the walking around, so we're going to talk to him a little bit about his tempo and found out some things.

"(Pitching coach Paul Menhart) found out some things that he's going to work with him and get him back on track. When your mechanics are a little off, you tend to do something else to correct it. And sometimes that's not the best."

Fedde said Menhart checked in with him after the game to reiterate what he noticed was affecting the right-hander's command.

"We talked a little bit about my front side," Fedde said. "But let's decompress today and get after it tomorrow."