The Nationals dropped their series opener, 8-0, to the Phillies just hours after Ruben Amaro had a little fire sale for his struggling club. The Phils shipped off two-thirds of their outfield to the NL West on Tuesday, with Shane Victorino traded to the Dodgers and Hunter Pence dealt to the Giants. The Nationals, meanwhile, were sending their ace Stephen Strasburg to the mound to continue their red-hot second half.
But Strasburg was not sharp as the Phils roughed him up the second and third time through the order and chased him after just four innings of work. Strasburg gave up eight hits and six earned runs in one of his rougher outings of his short career. Kevin Frandsen started things by taking an offering from the fireballer over the centerfield wall for a two-run shot. Juan Pierre manufactured a run in the third when Jesus Flores misfired to third on a steal attempt, allowing Pierre to come home.
The Phils then blew things open with a three-run fourth inning. Cliff Lee managed to single home a run and was promptly knocked in on an inside-the-park homer by Jimmy Rollins. That would close the book on Strasburg, but Lee would continue cruising.
The Phillies starter was in vintage form on Tuesday, pounding the zone and striking out seven in seven scoreless innings. The Philadelphia bullpen would maintain the shutout and quickly clean up the final two innings for an 8-0 victory.
It was just the fifth Phillies win against the Nats in the last 18 games. Washington will try to even things up on Wednesday with Edwin Jackson on the mound.
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