May 24, 2015
WASHINGTON — Bryce Harper drove in two runs, Gio Gonzalez outpitched Aaron Harang and the Washington Nationals beat the Phillies, 4-1, Sunday for their eighth straight series win.
Harper gave the Nationals a 2-1 lead with a run-scoring groundout in the fifth inning and added an RBI single in the seventh. In addition to moving into the NL lead with 41 RBIs, he also increased his league-leading totals in walks (39) and runs (39).
The 22-year-old Harper also threw out a runner from right field on a force play at second base.
Gonzalez (4-2) allowed one run and seven hits in 6 1-3 innings to win his third straight decision. It was his 46th victory with Washington, tied with Stephen Strasburg for second in Nationals history behind Jordan Zimmermann (60).
Drew Storen, the fifth Washington pitcher, worked the ninth for his 14th save.
Harang (4-4) gave up two runs and seven hits in six innings. It was the first time in three starts that the right-hander gave up an earned run.
Philadelphia finished with eight hits, two by Jeff Francoeur. The Phillies' starting lineup was without Ryan Howard and Chase Utley, who were a combined 3 for 31 against Gonzalez.
Philadelphia lost two of three to Washington and has not won a road series since last September.
Washington went up 2-1 in the fifth inning when Yunel Escobar hit a leadoff triple and scored on Harper's bouncer to shortstop. That was a good sign for the Nationals, who came in 17-0 when Escobar scores.
In the seventh, Odubel Herrera hit a one-out single and went halfway to second on Cameron Rupp's blooper to right. Harper got the ball on one hop and fired to shortstop Ian Desmond for an unusual 9-6 forceout.
The Nationals scored two runs in their half against the Philadelphia bullpen. Harper hit an opposite-field RBI single to left with two outs and scored on a double by Ryan Zimmerman, who had stranded five runners in his first three at-bats.
Gonzalez faced the minimum over the first three innings, getting four strikeouts and a pair of double plays.
In the fourth, Philadelphia used a two-out single by Francoeur to go up 1-0.
Harang's streak of 17 straight innings without allowing an earned run ended in the bottom half. Clint Robinson led off with a double and scored on a single by Jose Lobaton.
But for the third time in four innings, Washington left two runners on base.
Phillies: When Harang pitches, the bullpen rests. He's gone at least six innings in all 10 starts.
Nationals: Washington recalled RHP Taylor Jordan from Triple-A Syracuse and optioned RHP A.J. Cole to the same club. Cole struck out seven in 4 1-3 innings of relief Saturday.
Phillies: RHP Severino Gonzalez (2-1, 7.11 ERA) makes his fourth major league start Monday in the opener of a three-game series against the host New York Mets.
Nationals: Illinois native Tanner Roark gets his first start of the season Monday on the road against the Chicago Cubs.
