VIDEO: Phillies Fan Explain How They Planned On Receiving Jayson Werth

Nationals Vs. Phillies: Nationals Unravel In Philadelphia, Lose 4-1

The Washington Nationals' 1000th game ended just like the first game they played in 2005 did: in a loss. The Philadelphia Phillies patiently dissected the Nats pitching, scoring double digit hits while Washington couldn't muster any offense of their own which led to the final score of 4-1 Phillies.

Nationals starter Livan Hernandez started out strong, but slowly the Phillies offense got to him. As the game went on frustrations for the Cuban pitcher mounted as the offense seemed incapable of hitting anything off Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels and at one point Hernandez stepped off the mound in disagreement with a call from manager Jim Riggleman. Hernandez went six-innings giving up 10 hits and four runs. The fourth run was inherited after Hernandez was pulled and Doug Slaten allowed a run to score on a Ryan Howard single. Slaten's ERA continues to be 0.00, but that is becoming a deceptive stat in terms of what Slaten brings to the table.

The Nationals only run came off a Michael Morse solo home run in the seventh-inning.

Washington falls to 14-15 and into fourth place in the NL East.

Nationals Vs. Phillies: Nationals Battling But Down 2-0

It has not been pretty and the Philadelphia Phillies are racking up the hits, but the Washington Nationals have limited the damage and are trailing their NL East leading rivals 2-0 going into the sixth.

Nationals starter Livan Hernandez has not looked as sharp as previous starts, but has held his own against a potent Philadelphia line-up and have had some defense plays made behind him. In the third-inning when he gave up a triple to pitcher Cole Hamels. Hamels hit the ball into right field where outfielder Jayson Werth could not make a clean play on it. It was Hamels first career triple. Jimmy Rollins then singled bringing Hamels across the plate. Then in the fifth Placido Polanco hit a sac fly to score Rollins.

The Nationals wait for their offense to show up, but Werth is 0-for-1 with a walk and a steal so far in his first game back to Philadelphia while Michael Morse and Ivan Rodriguez are the only Nationals to collect hits against Hamels.

Two former Nationals are starting against the Nats in the Phillies line-up. Former infielder Pete Orr and catcher Brian Schneider are in the game, but have not made much of an impact as Orr is 0-for-1 with a walk and Schneider is 0-for-2.

Phillies Crowd Boos Jayson Werth, Nationals' Outfielder Salutes Them

Nationals Vs. Phillies: Jayson Werth Is Prepared For Phillies Fans Reactions

Tuesday night marks the first time Washington Nationals right fielder Jayson Werth returns to Philadelphia since he signed with Washington this past off season after four successful seasons with the hometown Philadelphia Phillies. It is no secret around the league that Phillies fans are one of the more uniquely "expressive" fan bases in baseball.

While it is easy to think the default reaction from Philly will be a negative one towards the bearded right fielder, Werth is hoping the Philadelphia crowd remembers the good times.

"There's been a lot of emotions had here in this stadium with this team, and a lot of unbelievable moments, things that I'll always remember," Werth said. "Hopefully, the fans will remember the good times, even if it's just for one at-bat, and we'll go from there."

Positive thoughts? Yes. A little naive? Probably. Whole sections of visiting Phillies fans screamed, shouted, ridiculed and booed Werth when the Phillies visited Nationals Park earlier in the season and now he will be on their home turf. But it doesn't seem to phase Werth whose career really took off in Philadelphia and who sees Phillies manager Charlie Manuel as a "father figure."

"I really am looking forward to playing here, for better or for worse. You can't take away from me - you can't take away from us, what we had," Werth said. "It was a special time in sports history, let alone Philadelphia sports history. Hopefully I'll be remembered for the good times, and after that, I understand. I understand all bets are off. Where this team is, and where their fans are at, I mean, I get it. I'm only one man."

Werth might be only one man, but he will be the one man many will be watching intently Tuesday night.

(via Ben Goessling)

Nationals Vs. Phillies: Jayson Werth Returns To Philadelphia In Nats 1,000th Game

The Washington Nationals are returning to where it all began. The Nationalss will be playing their 1,000th game since baseball returned to D.C. Tuesday night in the same place and against the same team they first faced long ago on April 4, 2005. In that game, the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Nats 8-4 at Citizens Bank Park to start a new era of D.C. baseball.

One weapon the Nationals did not have in 2005, but have now is right fielder Jayson Werth, who makes his return to Philadelphia for the first time since signing with the Nationals. Werth spent four seasons with the Phillies and collected a World Series ring with the team before signing with Washington this past offseason.

The Nationals are hoping for a different result Tuesday night against their NL East rival, and they will be using the same arm they used in that first game. The Nationals have called on Livan Hernandez (3-2, 3.23 ERA) to take the mound to oppose Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels (3-1, 3.13 ERA). Hernandez last pitched April 28th against the New York Mets and came away with his third win of the season, while Hamels is coming off an April 27th victory against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Nationals Lineup

Danny Espinosa - 2B

Ian Desmond - SS

Jayson Werth - RF

Adam LaRoche - 1B

Michael Morse - LF

Jerry Hairston Jr. - CF

Ivan Rodriguez - C

Brian Bixler - 3B

Livan Hernandez - SP