Phillies beat Nats 5-3 in DH opener for 13th win in 15 games
Nick Castellanos celebrates with Brad Hand after a 5-3 victory against the Washington Nationals during game one of a doubleheader. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) ((Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images))
WASHINGTON - Bryce Harper had three hits against his old team, and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the skidding Washington Nationals 5-3 Friday in a doubleheader opener for their 13th win in 15 games.
Nick Castellanos drove in two runs and scored another for the Phillies, who improved to 12-2 under interim manager Rob Thomson. Philadelphia’s 10-game winning streak against the Nationals is its longest against the franchise since 10 in a row against 1991 Montreal Expos.
The Phillies moved three games over .500 for the first time this season.
"Guys are in good moods in the clubhouse," Castellanos said. "We’re playing loose. We’re happy. If that translates to wins, I don’t know."
Washington has lost six straight, dropping to an NL-worst 23-44. Josh Bell homered for the Nationals, who have lost nine of 11 overall and nine straight home games to the Phillies.
Playing a makeup of a game postponed by the lockout on a 91-degree afternoon, the Phillies staked starter Ranger Suárez to a 2-0 lead before he threw a pitch thanks to Castellanos’ two-run double off Joan Adon (1-11).
Castellanos was in the middle of Philadelphia’s rally in the third, following Harper’s single by poking a double to right that Juan Soto appeared to misjudge. Odúbel Herrera had a run-scoring groundout and Alec Bohm hit an RBI double to give the Phillies a 4-0 lead.
Castellanos is batting .359 (14 of 39) in his last 11 games and is a .435 hitter (10 of 23) with nine RBIs in six career games at Nationals Park.
"That’s when he’s good, when he’s using the entire field," Thomson said. "He’s got a couple of walks in the last couple of days, which is good for him. He’s driving the ball and using the gaps, so it’s a good sign."
Washington managed one run in the first five innings, but Bell’s two-run homer into the right field bullpen in the sixth closed the gap to 5-3. Suárez (5-4) yielded three runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings while striking out five.
Brad Hand worked the ninth, escaping a two-on, one-out jam of his own making for his second save.
Adon, summoned as Washington’s 27th man for the doubleheader, allowed four runs and struck out six in five innings in his first start for the Nationals since June 7. He also extended his major league lead in losses; teammate Patrick Corbin ranks second with nine.
ON THE NUMBER
Former Washington infielder Ryan Zimmerman’s No. 11, which will be retired Saturday, was painted on the field in foul territory along both baselines. Zimmerman was the Nationals’ first draft pick after moving to Washington and played his entire 16-season career with the franchise.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Phillies: LHP Bailey Falter was designated as Philadelphia’s 27th man and was scheduled to start the second game.
Nationals: LHP Evan Lee departed in the seventh after walking four of his last five batters. He also threw two wild pitches in that stretch, and will have his shoulder examined. "When he misses the strike zone like that, I thought there was something wrong with him," manager Dave Martinez said. "So we’re going to check him out."
ROSTER MOVE
Washington recalled RHP Cory Abbott from Rochester before the first game and optioned RHP Andres Machado to Rochester. Machado was 0-0 with a 5.48 ERA in 17 games for the Nationals.
UP NEXT
Phillies: RHP Aaron Nola (4-4, 3.42 ERA), who allowed 11 earned runs in nine innings over two starts against Washington last season, gets the nod Saturday.
Nationals: RHP Josiah Gray (6-4, 4.33) is 2-0 with a 1.13 ERA over his last three outings and makes his first start since June 8.