Soriano on losing his closer job, Span and Harper describe collision in the outfield

Nationals manager Matt Williams will make a change at closer after Rafael Soriano blew his second straight save in a 9-8 11-inning setback to the Phillies. Soriano has blown five games in 14 opportunities since the All-Star break, and has a 6.98 ERA in 21 games since the break.

Soriano said he understands he has not been pitching well. He has allowed opponents to score at least one run in four of his last five outings.

"Whatever situation that (Williams) could make, I will be with him because one of the reasons that I like him so far is we have good communication," Soriano said . "That would be my job in the ninth. Right now, it cannot be too easy to do it and I know I have to do it better. I got to figure out what's going on right now and do it better."

Soriano allowed home runs to Carlos Ruiz and Ben Revere in the ninth that evened the game at 7-7 after the Nationals led 7-4 heading into the frame.

"I think the two breaking pitches that I throw and that be (how) the game get tied," Soriano said. "I didn't do my job tonight."

Soriano said he will use his bullpen sessions and review of game video to try to pinpoint what is going on with his pitches.

"I going to check my video because I never do it before," Soriano said. "(Pitching coach Steve) McCatty, I'm going to sit down with him and I got to throw bullpen. Something he can see. We'll figure it out."

What is wrong right now?

"I think my fastball is good. I feel fine."

Soriano said it is never easy to hand over the closer role because he knows that is why he was brought here.

"I don't feel comfortable with that because I know that be my job and I'm supposed to do it," Soriano said. "But at the same time, I feel bad tonight because we lost. What I have to say, come back tomorrow and be ready and see what happens."

Another big play in the game was the collision in the 11th inning between Bryce Harper and Denard Span as they went after a deep fly ball off the bat of Domonic Brown. The Phillies ended up scoring two unearned runs in that inning.

Span explained what happened on the play.

"Oh man, just miscommunication," Span said. "(Harper) said he was calling for it and I was calling for it as well. Just a tough break. Tough break."

Harper described what he saw as he raced over from left field.

"I just think going after a ball, call it at it's highest point. Denard came over, called it, I bumped into him," Harper said. "It's something that happens and build on that tomorrow."

Several times this year when the two have come close to running into each other, Harper would eventually peel off toward the wall. This time, he didn't move off the line for the ball.

"I see him in my peripheral (vision), but I thought he was going to veer off (and) just didn't," Span said. "I am pretty positive he didn't hear me. It was just miscommunication basically."

"It was just one of those ones where I think I can get it," Harper said. "Got to the point where I thought I could get it and he called it. We bump into each other. Center field (has) priority, of course, so I got to get out of there."

Later, Harper had a shot to erase that bad memory. With the tying run at second base and two outs in the 11th and the Nats down 9-8, his hot shot to left was caught on the run by Brown to end the game.

"Definitely I thought it was going to drop," Harper said. "Something hopefully we can get back tomorrow and win a ball game."