The Nationals look for their first series win over the Phillies this season as they get back to the field a mere 17 1/2 hours after Daniel Murphy's thrilling double scored Bryce Harper from first base in a 3-2 10-inning victory.
Murphy is riding a 10-game hitting streak to begin the season. His six doubles are tied with the Dodgers' Justin Turner for most in the National League. Boston's Mitch Moreland leads the major leagues with eight. But Murphy's 20 hits are the best in the majors, with Will Myers of the Padres second with 17. It is a head scratcher when the Phillies decided to walk Harper to get to Murphy earlier in the game. The No. 3-4 spots in the Nationals lineup are proving to be their major strength early on this season.
The Phillies' Jeremy Hellickson (1-0, 0.90 ERA) faces the Nationals' Tanner Roark (2-0, 4.09 ERA) in today's Saturday matinee. Hellickson feels better after cramping in his forearm forced him to leave his last start. Roark allowed five runs (three earned) in a 14-6 win over the Cardinals. He would like to prevent the hard contact St. Louis enjoyed in registering seven hits. Only one of the hist was for extra bases and his defense committed three errors behind him.
Adam Eaton gets a break today, with Michael A. Taylor starting in center field, while Chris Heisey draws the start in left in place of Jayson Werth and Jose Lobaton is behind the plate to give Matt Wieters a day off.
WASHINGTON NATIONALS vs. PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 1:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN2, WUSA, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, 1500 AM, XM 183 (Internet 869), MLB.com
Weather: Mostly cloudy, 67 degrees, 15 percent chance of precipitation, wind 8 mph in from right field
NATIONALS (6-4)
SS Wilmer Difo
3B Anthony Rendon
RF Bryce Harper
2B Daniel Murphy
1B Ryan Zimmerman
LF Chris Heisey
CF Michael A. Taylor
C Jose Lobaton
RHP Tanner Roark
PHILLIES (3-7)
2B César Hernández
LF Howie Kendrick
CF Odúbel Herrera
3B Maikel Franco
RF Michael Saunders
1B Tommy Joseph
C Andrew Knapp
SS Freddy Galvis
RHP Jeremy Hellickson
By accepting you will be accessing a service provided by a third-party external to https://www.masnsports.com/