Thursday, May 24, 2012

Nationals top Phillies again

News photoYes!: Chicago's Tony Campana (left) celebrates beside Houston's Matt Downs after being called safe at third base on Tuesday. AP

PHILADELPHIA — Bryce Harper and the Washington Nationals continued their domination of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Jordan Zimmermann pitched six solid innings, and Ian Desmond and Rick Ankiel homered to lead the Nationals to a 5-2 victory Tuesday night.

Harper tripled, singled and drove in two runs for the Nationals, who won their third straight overall and beat the Phillies for the sixth straight time in Philadelphia — something that never had been done in the franchise's 43-year history. Washington has defeated Philadelphia in four of the five meetings this season and 13 of the last 16 overall.

Roy Halladay (4-4) continued his indifferent season with his second-worst start of the season, going six innings and allowing five runs and nine hits with six strikeouts and one walk.

It was especially surprising against the Nationals, a franchise Halladay has dominated with an 11-1 record and 2.28 ERA in 16 career starts. His last loss to the Washington franchise came on June 28, 2002 as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays against the then-Montreal Expos.

"You've got to be aggressive against him because he'll throw strikes," Nationals manager Davey Johnson said of Halladay. "He's a Hall of Famer, you better be up there swinging."

Harper did just that by belting the first pitch he saw, a 127-kph curveball, to right-center for a two-run triple in the third inning.

"He hung a curveball to the kid and he smoked it," Johnson said. "It was a turning point in the game as far as I'm concerned."

Said Harper, "I was looking for a first-pitch curveball and I got it. I was just trying to hit something up the middle and score some runs."

Mets 3, Pirates 2

In Pittsburgh, Lucas Duda smacked a go-ahead RBI single in the top of the eighth.

Reds 4, Braves 3

In Cincinnati, Brandon Phillips drove in three runs with a pair of homers off Brandon Beachy.

Marlins 7, Rockies 6

In Miami, Ricky Nolasco gave up three runs in the first inning, then settled down to set a franchise record for career victories.

Cardinals 4, Padres 0

In St. Louis, Adam Wainwright threw a four-hitter and the Cardinals beat San Diego.

Giants 6, Brewers 4

In Milwaukee, Buster Posey homered off the Miller Park scoreboard and had three RBIs.

Milwaukee's Norichika Aoki was 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Astros 2, Cubs 1

In Houston, J.D. Martinez hit the go-ahead RBI single in the sixth inning and Jose Altuve had a solo homer.

Dodgers 8, Diamondbacks 7

In Phoenix, Ivan De Jesus hit a two-run double with two outs in the ninth to give the Dodgers the lead.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Indians 5, Tigers 3

In Cleveland, Chris Perez, greeted by a standing ovation from the time he left the bullpen, worked another scary ninth inning for his 14th save.

Angels 4, Athletics 0

In Oakland, C.J. Wilson and Ernesto Frieri combined on a one-hitter.

Rangers 3, Mariners 1

In Seattle, Elvis Andrus lined a two-strike pitch into the left-center field gap for a two-run triple, and Texas snapped the Mariners' winning streak at four.

Ichiro Suzuki was 2-for-4 for Seattle.

Yankees 3, Royals 2

In New York, Robinson Cano homered, and Phil Hughes beat Kansas City for the second time this month.

Rays 8, Blue Jays 5

In St. Petersburg, Florida, Carlos Pena hit a three-run homer during a five-run fourth.

Twins 9, White Sox 2

In Chicago, P.J. Walters tossed his first career complete game.

White Sox outfielder Kosuke Fukudome was 0-for 1.

Orioles 4, Red Sox 1

In Baltimore, Brian Matusz allowed two hits and struck out nine batters.


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