Strasburg too much for Phillies in loss

The Washington Nationals became the first team in the majors to clinch a playoff spot this season, winning the NL East on Sunday after a 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies.

WASHINGTON » Stephen Strasburg threw eight innings of two-hit ball to extend his scoreless streak to a franchise-record 34 innings, and the Washington Nationals moved closer to wrapping up the NL East title with a 3-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday.

Trea Turner homered and tripled for the Nationals, and Victor Robles got his first major league hit and RBI as Washington rested nearly all its regular starters.

The Nationals could clinch the NL East with a loss by the Miami Marlins, who were playing the Atlanta Braves on Sunday. Washington also moved within 4 ½ games of the fading Dodgers for the best record in the major leagues.

Strasburg (13-4) struck out 10 and hasn’t allowed a run since Aug. 19 at San Diego, which was his first start since coming off the disabled list with an elbow nerve impingement. Since returning from the DL, he is 3-1 with an 0.51 ERA, 41 strikeouts and just four walks.

Facing a Philadelphia lineup with five rookies, the right-hander had 10 strikeouts, the seventh time this season he’s topped doubled digits, and fanned rookie slugger Rhys Hoskins three times. Strasburg had command of everything he threw, including a fastball topping out at 97 mph and a 90-mph changeup. He walked one, induced two double plays and faced one batter over the minimum.

“He had all his pitches working for him and he was tough to hit,” Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. “We have young guys who have never seen him before, which also added to his success, not that he needs that.”

The Phillies threatened in the ninth off Ryan Madson, who allowed Nick Williams’ bloop two-out, tworun single before retiring Hoskins on a grounder. It was his second save this season and first for the Nationals, who acquired him in a trade with Oakland on July 16.

Rookie Ben Lively (3-6) allowed six hits and struck out seven in his first career complete game, and the first for the Phillies this year.