Hoskins hits another homer, Phillies top Nationals 5-4

WASHINGTON » Rhys Hoskins went deep and drew three walks, Maikel Franco hit his 20th home run of the season and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Washington Nationals 5-4 on Saturday night at Nationals Park.

Edwin Jackson (5-5) allowed both homers and was charged with five runs in 3 1/3 innings. Washington’s magic number to clinch the NL East dropped to two when Miami lost to Atlanta on the night.

Hoskins hit his 14th homer in 30 games since making his major league debut on Aug. 10, and Franco went long two batters later in the second inning. Cesar Hernandez added three hits for the Phillies.

Mark Leiter Jr. (3-5) allowed four runs and six hits over six innings. He walked one and struck out eight.

Luis Garcia struck out Daniel Murphy, Ryan Zimmerman and Anthony Rendon in the eighth, and Hector Neris pitched the ninth for his 20th save, working around a leadoff walk while leaving a runner stranded at second base to end the threat.

Odubel Herrera was 0 for 4 and ended his hitting streak at 21 games, the longest in the majors this season.

UP NEXT

The Phillies and Nationals close out the series today back at Nationals Park. First pitch will be at 1:35 p.m.

Ben Lively (3-5, 3.92 ERA) will get the start for Philadelphia up against the always dangerous ace Stephen Strasburg (12-4, 2.78 ERA).