Strasburg on target again (Nats win 3-2)

The combination of Stephen Strasburg and a young lineup desperate to show they belong could be a recipe for difficulty for the Phillies.

Strasburg has struck out five in three innings. He has also enjoyed fine catches by right fielder Rafael Bautista and a Sun Monster-conquering catch from rookie Victor Robles.

Ben Lively has kept pace for the Phillies. Wilmer Difo doubled in the first and Andrew Stevenson walked in the second, but the Nats have been unable to plate a run through three frames as well. Lively has struck out three himself, and had a 1-2-3 third.

The Braves aren't helping either. The Marlins lead Atlanta 3-0 in the second inning.

After three in D.C., the Nats and Phillies are scoreless.

Update II: The Phillies managed a base hit off of Strasburg on a single through into left field by the third baseman Adrián Sanchez in the fifth inning. The Nats wiped it away with a force out to second base to end the inning.

The Braves lead the Marlins 5-3 in the fourth.

After five innings, the Nats and the Phillies remain scoreless.

Update III: Sanchez got a run-scoring single and Robles an RBI double in the sixth. It was the first major league hit and first big league RBI for Robles, who appeared to have a RBI triple but overslid the bag and was out 8-4-5.

The Nats lead the the Phillies 2-0 after six innings.

Update IV: Strasburg finishes eight innings of scoreless ball, allowing two hits and one walk, striking out 10. He threw 108 pitches, 76 for strikes. It is the seventh time this season and 36th time in his career he has had 10 or more strikeouts in a game.

Turner hit a solo homer in the eighth, his ninth HR this season.

The Marlins and the Braves are tied at 5-5 in the sixth.

After eight innings, the Nats lead the Phillies 3-0.

Update V: Ryan Madson allowed a two-run single by Nick Williams in the ninth but recorded the first save of his Nats career, getting Rhys Hoskins on a fielder's choice to shortstop to end the game.

The Nats defeat the Phillies 3-2. The magic number is down to one.

The time of game was two hours, 16 minutes, the shortest game at Nats Park this season.

The Nats now await the end of the Marlins and Braves game to see if they clinch the division today.