Werth, Nats steal big win in ninth
WASHINGTON » What could have been an impressive come-from-behind win dissolved into the latest in a string of losses for the Philadelphia Phillies.
Jayson Werth hit a twoout, two-run single off closer Jeanmar Gomez in the ninth inning, helping the Washington Nationals rally past the Phillies 5-4 on Sunday to complete a threegame sweep.
The Phillies (29-34), who rallied from an early 3-0 deficit and took the lead on Maikel Franco’s solo homer in the ninth, fell to a seasonhigh five games under .500.
“These type games, you’re not allowed to make mistakes like we did today,” said manager Pete Mackanin, whose team has lost 17 of their last 22, including 11 of 12 against the Nationals and Cubs.
Gomez (2-2) got the first out, but then pinch hitter Bryce Harper hit a grounder in the hole between first and second. Cesar Hernandez’s throw was high and first baseman Tommy Joseph appeared to come down next to the bag, and the speedy Harper raced across as Joseph moved his foot to the base.
Harper was safe and the play survived a challenge by Mackanin.
“Couldn’t feel (the base). Obviously, if I couldn’t feel it, that’s why I went back and tried to tag it. By then, it didn’t look good and obviously the cameras weren’t on my side,” said Joseph, adding he thought it was the right call.
Mackanin added: “From what I saw on the replays, if he didn’t go back with his foot right at the last second I believe they would have called (Harper) out.”
After Danny Espinosa’s single and a two-out walk to pinch hitter Clint Robinson, Werth singled to center on a 2-2 pitch to bring home Harper and Espinosa.
“I threw a fastball that was going to be down and away, but it was up a little bit,” said Gomez (2-2), who blew only his second save in 21 opportunities.
The Nationals (39-24) improved to a season-best 15 games over .500. It was the second three-game sweep of Philadelphia in two weeks for Washington, which has won 10 of its last 13.
Jonathan Papelbon (1-2) earned the victory against his former team despite giving up the home run to Franco.
The Nationals staked Joe Ross to a 3-0 lead with back-to-back sacrifice flies in the first inning and Espinosa’s 11th home run to lead off the second. But that was all they would muster against Phillies left-hander Adam Morgan, who had lost five consecutive starts and struggled early with his control.
Morgan, who struck out a career-high eight, allowed only three baserunners after Espinosa’s homer and lasted 6 2/3 innings — his longest outing since May 10. Morgan threw 17 balls in the first inning and 20 afterward.
“Morgan started off and looked so bad, I thought we were in the bullpen early, and boy did he settle down and pitched outstanding,” Mackanin said. “That’s the best I’ve seen him pitch in two years after that first inning.”
The Phillies, who scored
Jonathan Papelbon
■ melt against ■ it tough Phils. (0-for-4) had plate.
Tommy Joseph
at the the seems to only one run over 14 2/3 innings against Ross in his two previous starts against them, tied it with Cody Asche’s first homer of the year in the fifth and two more runs in the sixth.