Franco’s 4 hits help Phils defeat Nationals

Santana adds homer as Phillies earn 5th win in last 6 games

WASHINGTON » Maikel Franco went 4 for 4, Carlos Santana homered and the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Washington Nationals 5-3 on Saturday.

With the Phillies leading 3-2 in the eighth, Santana sent a drive into the Philadelphia bullpen in left-center field off Kelvin Herrera for his 13th homer of the season and second in two games. Franco later added an RBI single.

Philadelphia’s Odubel Herrera, who had homered in five straight games, went 0 for 4.

The Phillies have won five of six while the Nationals have lost three of four, scoring a total of nine runs. Anthony Rendon homered for Washington.

Aaron Nola (9-2) stiffened after a shaky first inning, giving up two runs on four hits over six. He struck out five and didn’t allow a hit after the second inning, bouncing back from four-run, 4 1/3-inning effort last time out. Nola also hit an RBI single.

Seranthony Dominguez worked the ninth for his fourth save.

Erick Fedde (0-3) allowed three runs on eight hits in sixplus innings.

With the score 2-all, Franco doubled leading off the sev-

enth and moved to third on a groundout. Pinch-hitter Jesmuel Valentin lifted a fly to right, Franco tagged and just beat Adam Eaton’s throw home with the safe call surviving a replay challenge.

Daniel Murphy’s tworun single in the first inning gave Washington the early lead, but the Phillies strung together four two-out singles — the last by Nola — in the second to tie it.

BUNTER’S CHANCE

For the second consecutive game, Nationals slugger Bryce Harper tried to beat the shift with a first-inning bunt. Friday night, he bunted foul before striking out and Saturday he was thrown out by Nola.

TRAINER’S ROOM

PHILLIES » RHP Jerad Eickhoff (right lat strain) threw a 35-pitch bullpen session and will likely throw another session in a few days. NATIONALS » 1B Ryan Zimmerman (right oblique strain) is expected to go on a rehabilitation assignment within the next week, according to manager Dave Martinez. . RHP Jeremy Hellickson (right hamstring strain) will pitch Sunday for Class A Potomac and is expected to rejoin the rotation after the one rehab start. . RH reliever Brandon Kintzler (right foreman flexor strain) will also pitch at Potomac on Sunday.

UP NEXT

PHILLIES » RHP Nick Pivetta (4-6, 4.08), acquired from Washington in the trade for Jonathan Papelbon, pitches the finale. He’s 0-2 with an 11.81 ERA in three starts against the Nationals.

NATIONALS » RHP Jefry Rodriguez (0-0, 4.66) makes his second big league start.

NICK WASS — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Philadelphia Phillies’ Maikel Franco, right, slides home to score against Washington Nationals catcher Spencer Kieboom during the seventh inning of a baseball game Saturday in Washington. The Phillies won 5-3.

NICK WASS — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Philadelphia Phillies’ Carlos Santana celebrates his home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals Saturday in Washington. The Phillies won 5-3.

NICK WASS — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Philadelphia Phillies’ Cesar Hernandez (16) steals second against Washington Nationals second baseman Wilmer Difo (1) during the seventh inning of a baseball game Saturday in Washington.