Strasburg strong in subduing Phillies (Nats win 4-0)

The two San Diego County natives square off again Sunday in D.C. as left-hander Cole Hamels faces right-hander Stephen Strasburg. It is their fourth meeting. Strasburg holds a 1.37 ERA in games against Hamels, and is 1-0 with two no decisions. Strasburg was rolling in the first two innings, recording four strikeouts. The Phillies' lone hit in three frames was a Cody Asche single. The Nationals went 1-2-3 in the first and second innings against Hamels. But Jose Lobaton reached on a fielding error by Asche in the third. After Strasburg hit a sacrifice bunt to take Lobaton to second, Denard Span brought him home with a base hit in front of center fielder Ben Revere. The Nationals lead 1-0. Update: With two outs in the fifth, Asche doubled. With Hamels batting, Strasburg threw to second and Ian Desmond tagged Asche. Second base umpire Tripp Gibson ruled Asche safe. The Nationals challenged the call. The play was reviewed by video replay. The call was upheld. The delay was approximately three minutes and three seconds. The Nationals will not have a challenge for the rest of the game, but they continue to hold onto a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth. Update II: Strasburg finished seven innings, allowed three hits, no runs, one walk and struck out 10 batters. He tossed 99 pitches, 68 for strikes. Bryce Harper came into the game in left field to begin the eighth inning. Update III: Anthony Rendon with a RBI double in the bottom of the eighth off of reliever Ken Giles. Nationals lead 2-0. Jayson Werth added a double off the right-center field wall that scored Rendon and the Nationals lead was 3-0. Later, with Harper batting, Werth came home thanks to a passed ball and then a wild pitch. National lead now 4-0. Update IV: Rafael Soriano got three outs in the ninth. The Nationals shutout the Phillies for the second straight game. Final: Nationals 4, Phillies 0.