Kendrick haunts old team with homer (Phillies win 4-1)

PHILADELPHIA - The middle of the Nats lineup consists of a pair of former Phillies: Howie Kendrick and Jayson Werth. Werth has been with the Nats since 2011. Kendrick came over in a mid-season deal.

Kendrick got the offense going for the Nats with a solo homer to deep center field. His ninth homer of the season came on an 0-2 pitch from Phillies starter Jake Thompson to lead off the second.

In the first, Bryce Harper walked in his first at-bat since Aug. 12. Anthony Rendon grounded into a 5-4-3 double play and Ryan Zimmerman struck out to end the inning.

Left-hander Gio Gonzalez got into a bit of a jam in the second. Tommy Joseph singled. He then struck out Odúbel Herrera. Then Cameron Rupp was walked. Later, Gonzalez managed to strikeout J.P. Crawford looking. Thompson was walked to load the bases. On a 3-1 count, César Hernández drove a Gonzalez offering to deep left field. Werth caught it on the fly to end the inning.

Gonzalez has allowed only a .146 batting average with runners in scoring position, the top mark in Major League Baseball.

After two innings, the Nats lead the Phillies 1-0.

Update: Gonzalez walked four batters in a span of five hitters bridging the second to the third inning. He was able to get out of the second unscathed. That wasn't the case in the third inning. After two walks to start the inning and a strikeout of Rhys Hoskins, Joseph connected on his second single of the game. The hit scored Freddy Galvis. Two batters later, Cameron Rupp doubled over Michael A. Taylor's glove in center field. Aaron Altherr and Joseph scored.

After three innings, the Phillies lead 3-1.

Update II: Gonzalez finished five innings, allowing three runs on five hits with five walks, one wild pitch and seven strikeouts. He tossed 109 pitches, 55 for strikes.

After six innings, the Phillies maintain a 3-1 advantage over the Nats.

Update III: The Phillies manufactured a run in the seventh against Enny Romero. Galvis walked to lead off the frame. Altherr's slow roller was corraled by Turner who was able to throw him out. But Galvis raced towards third and Zimmerman was unable to get much on the throw. Galvis was safe. Rhys Hoskins fly ball to deep center field scored Galvis. The sacrifice fly RBI upped the Phillied lead to 4-1.

Seven innings complete and the Nats are down three runs.

Update IV: Harper finished 4 1/2 innings, going 0-for-2 with a walk and a strikeout. Victor Robles replaced him to begin the bottom of the fifth.

The Nats' final five batters struck out to end the game.

Final score: the Phillies 4, the Nats 1.