The Phillies were outscored 17-5 by the Cubs and have scored two runs or fewer in six of their last nine games.TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MASN (Washington), CSN PhiladelphiaPITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Tanner Roark (3-4, 2.71 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Jeremy Hellickson (4-3, 3.97)Roark was a hard-luck loser last time against the New York Mets despite permitting two runs over seven innings – the sixth time this season he’s yielded one earned run or fewer.
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The Nationals are 1-4 in their last 5 Tuesday games and 1-4 in Ross’ last 5 starts.
“We’ve had a good combo with Neris and (Jeanmar) Gomez”, Mackanin said.
Hellickson helped his own cause early this time around, bunting with a man on third to bring in a run and give himself a lead to work with in the second. On April 16th at Citizens Bank Park, he allowed seven runs in five innings in an 8-1 loss. In nine starts this season, Ross is 4-4 with an excellent 2.52 ERA and he has held opposing hitters to a. 247 batting average through 53.2 innings. “Thought it was a good idea”. The Phils led 2-1 after seven, but Hector Neris struggled in the 8th, allowing three runs that paved the way to victory for Washington. Cesar Hernandez was issued a one-out walk and then stole second and reached third on a wild pitch before scoring on Hellickson’s squeeze bunt. The Phillies took a 2-1 lead when Freddy Galvis led off the sixth inning with a home run.
Murphy tied the score in the fourth with a home run to right-center, his eighth of the season.
Later in the inning, former Phillie Ben Revere made an outstanding running catch at the warning track in center to rob Ryan Howard of a hit.
Bryce Harper likes hitting in CBP. The reigning NL MVP went to first base, got doubled off on Murphy’s fly out to left and was replaced by Chris Heisey in right field in the bottom half.
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If teams are going to put him on base, Bryce Harper would probably rather get the four-pitch walk than the errant pitch to the kneecap, but he wasn’t so lucky to choose on Monday night. He’s had a little trouble with the home run (9 allowed) but managed to be right at a hit allowed and strikeout per inning – two benchmarks of a competent starter. He’s carried that groove into the first two months of this season with the Nationals. Phillies 1B Ryan Howard had an RBI double Monday for his third hit in his last 34 at-bats.3. But Papelbon struck out pinch-hitter Tommy Joseph and Cesar Hernandez and retired Tyler Goeddel on a liner to second.
