Leaky pen leaves a stain on Phillies

WASHINGTON — On a day when the Phillies appeared to survive Max Scherzer, they were done in by Wilmer Difo.

Scherzer struck out 15 in only 61⁄3 innings Sunday, but the Nationals trailed by a run entering the ninth before rallying for a 5-4 victory over the Phillies.

Scherzer and Phillies starter Jake Arrieta, who have combined to win the last three National League Cy Young Awards, kept things close into the late innings before both bullpens faltered.

“Max had his stuff today,” Phillies outfielder Rhys Hoskins said. “We got punched in the mouth for the first five innings.”

“I didn’t do a good job (of getting ahead) but was able to make pitches, get the count back to two strikes and throw an out pitch,” Scherzer said. “And obviously (I) collected a ton of strikeouts today.”

Scherzer, who won the last two NL Cy Youngs, fanned seven in a row during one stretch and got 12 consecutive outs via strikeout from the second inning to the sixth. He gave up a run on five hits and two walks.

“We had conversations from the fifth inning on,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. “He went out in that last inning with purely heart.”

Arrieta allowed one run and two hits over six innings, but Phillies closer Hector Neris was unable to protect a 4-3 lead in the ninth. He walked pinch hitter Pedro Severino with the bases loaded to tie it and Difo followed with a winning single that was hit over a five-man infield.

“Our bullpen should come in and throw strikes,” Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said after his relievers issued four walks. “That’s one thing they have to do (and) it didn’t happen.”

Sean Doolittle got the win in relief for the Nationals.