Phillies starting pitcher Aaron Nola, who did not figure in the decision, allowed no runs and six hits with five strikeouts before he was lifted after five innings.
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Bryce Harper had an RBI double to drive in Anthony Rendon with one out in the bottom of the 12th inning against reliever Colton Murray as the Washington Nationals beat the Philadelphia Phillies 2-1 on Saturday, but it was too late for the defending National League East division champions.
They’ll face Gio Gonzalez (11-8, 3.94 ERA), who began September impressively but regressed into his preceding struggles in Tuesday’s 4-1 home loss to Baltimore.
“I think that’s just the way it was this year”, Harper told reporters in D.C. “The Mets had everything going for them”.
The play was the first of its kind in 16 years.
At Nationals Park, Stephen Strasburg was dominant for the first seven innings, striking out 11 Phillies and allowing only one hit.
In eight starts after the oblique injury and before Saturday’s start atgainst the Philadelphia Phillies, Strasburg was (5-2), with a 2.24 ERA, six walks (1.03 BB/9) and 72 Ks (12.38 K/9) in 52 ⅓ IP, over which he held opposing hitters to a.176/.202/.232 line. The Phillies have matched their losses from 2000 and 1972 – their most since dropping 99 in 1969 – but still see some value in the season.
Zimmermann’s 70 wins are the most by a National since the franchise moved to Washington.
When leading after 7 innings, Washington is 36-34, while Philadelphia is 29-43.
While Harper won’t get a ring this season he is still the favorite to win the NL MVP with a.339 average, 41 home runs and 96 RBIs.
The last time the Phillies had an inside-the-park grand slam was by Ted Kazanski on August. It was about 7:15 p.m. EDT when the scoreboard at Nationals Park reflected that the New York Mets had won, 10-2, in Cincinnati, to clinch the division.
“I don’t know. It was a good day, I guess”, Altherr said with a smile.
Aaron Harang is headed for free agency, so the right-hander would like his final two starts to be as impressive as possible.
Cody Asche had two hits, including a two-run homer, and Darin Ruf added a solo homer and a double for the Phillies, who had lost eight of nine and are in their final road series.
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“I don’t want him to finish the season on a low note, because he’s done such a great job for us”, Mackanin said.
