Washington, DC – Steve Lombardozzi collected three hits, including a two-run double that capped a four-run fifth inning to lift the Washington Nationals to a 5-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies in the opener of a three-game set Friday at Nationals Park.
Adam LaRoche added an RBI triple in the rally, with Kurt Suzuki knocking in the other run in the decisive fifth frame for the Nationals, who have won two straight on the heels of a four-game slide.
Jordan Zimmermann (8-2) limited the Phillies to two runs on six hits over seven strong innings, while Rafael Soriano retired the visitors in order in the ninth to nail down his 14th save of the season.
Domonic Brown went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored, while Erik Kratz plated the other run for the Phillies, who had won three of four coming into the contest.
Kyle Kendrick (4-3) was charged for all five runs on eight hits and four walks over five innings to absorb the loss.
"He was having problems throughout the night. He a big pitch count in the first two innings. He was having trouble," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said.
Kratz broke a 1-1 tie with a sacrifice fly in the top of the fifth, but the Nats responded with four in the bottom half to take control.
After Ryan Zimmerman reached on a fielder's choice, LaRoche launched a fly ball to center field that Ben Revere was unable to track down, allowing Zimmerman to score and LaRoche to cruise into third with a triple.
Kendrick bounced back with a strikeout of Ian Desmond before Suzuki scorched a single to left to plate LaRoche for a 3-2 lead.
Tyler Moore then reached on an infield single that third baseman Michael Young couldn't corral before Lombardozzi ripped a double into the gap in right center to make it 5-2.
Zimmermann held the Phils hitless over his final two frames before Tyler Clippard and Soriano each spun a perfect inning in relief to secure the victory.
The Phillies struck first in the second when Ryan Howard smacked a leadoff double, moved to third on a groundout and scored on Brown's single to right.
The Nationals answered without the aide of hit in the third, as three consecutive walks loaded the bases before Desmond's sac fly tied the game.
"It felt really good to get (Zimmermann) some runs. Early on we've been scoring early then shutting down. To get on the board and pour on four more late was nice. It's a real nice cushion, especially with him on the mound," LaRoche said.
Game Notes
Zimmermann improved to 10-0 in his last 16 starts at Nationals Park ... Washington went 3-for-10 with runners in scoring position and left nine men on base ... Philadelphia finished 3-for-6 with RISP and left three on base ... Revere recorded his fourth outfield assist of the season in the fourth when he threw out Moore trying to score from second.
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