Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Roy Oswalt allowed just one run in six sharp innings, and the Philadelphia Phillies ran their win streak to five with a 9-1 rout of the Washington Nationals.
Oswalt (13-13) was backed by a potent six-run first inning and yielded six hits, a walk and struck out seven for the Phillies, who improved to 13-3 in September. They also maintained their three-game lead in the NL East over Atlanta, which beat New York. The Phillies have now won Oswalt's last nine starts after dropping his debut in Washington.
Carlos Ruiz and Jayson Werth both homered and drove in a pair of runs, while Raul Ibanez also recorded two RBI for Philadelphia, which has won 17 of its last 21 overall and 30 of its last 41 home games.
Ryan Zimmerman tied a career high with four hits and drove in the lone Nationals run, as Washington lost for the seventh time in nine games. Jason Marquis (2-9) took the loss after being pounded for six runs on six hits and a walk while recording just one out.
Danny Espinosa led off the game with a single and eventually scored on Zimmerman's soft base hit to left to give the Nationals the early lead, but the Phillies answered with a powerful first inning to move in front for good.
With one out, Placido Polanco singled up the middle, and Chase Utley worked a walk. Ryan Howard sent a base hit up the middle to load the bases for Werth, who sent a dribbler past the pitcher's mound for an RBI infield single.
Ibanez followed with a single to center, plating two runners for a 3-1 lead, and Ruiz was hit by a pitch to re-load the bases. Wilson Valdez hit what looked to be a double play groundout, but the ball clipped second base umpire Tim Tschida, which halted play and awarded each player one base.
Oswalt became the eighth consecutive Philadelphia hitter to reach base by singling to left on a full count, which ended Marquis' outing. Shane Victorino capped the scoring with an RBI fielder's choice groundout for a 6-1 advantage.
The Phillies didn't manage another hit until the fifth, when Werth crushed a solo homer off Scott Olsen for a 7-1 lead.
Oswalt cruised through the sixth, allowing just one other baserunner to reach third past the first. That occurred in the fourth, when Ivan Rodriguez led off with a double and moved to third on a groundout. Justin Maxwell followed with a fly ball to center, and Victorino threw out Rodriguez at home trying to tag up on the play.
Ruiz's two-run homer in the eighth accounted for the final margin.
Game Notes
Nationals outfielder Nyjer Morgan began an eight-game suspension for an altercation in Philadelphia with a fan and a brawl in Florida...Philadelphia improved to 40-21 after the All-Star break, the best record in the NL in that span...The Phillies lead the season series, 8-5.