Phillies Lose to Nationals 3-2

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jordan Zimmermann became the National League's first 16-game winner, pitching seven solid innings to lead the Washington Nationals past the Philadelphia Phillies 3-2 on Wednesday night.

Zimmermann (16-8) struck out five, walked one and allowed two runs in winning his fourth straight start.

Ryan Zimmerman's solo shot off Phillies reliever Zach Miner in the seventh inning tied the game at 2.

Jake Diekman (1-4) walked the leadoff batter in the eighth, then allowed pinch-runner Jeff Kobernus to score on a fielder's choice for the winning run.

The Nationals sat outfielder Bryce Harper to rest his ailing hip.

The Phillies wasted a chance to tie the game in the eighth with runners on first and third and one out.

Craig Stammen struck out Darin Ruf and the ball scooted away from catcher Jhonatan Solano on strike three. Chase Utley was tagged out on a mad dash for home by a lunging Solano for the strike 'em out-tag 'em out double play.

Rafael Soriano worked the ninth for his 38th save.

Phillies starter Roy Halladay survived a miserable first inning to end up allowing three hits over six innings. Four months after right shoulder surgery, this certainly wasn't vintage Halladay. He walked five and hit two batters. He labored through a 29-pitch first inning.

But the two-time Cy Young Award winner struck out five after fanning four combined in his last two starts. He settled down after he hit or walked five of the first 10 batters he faced.

And he kept the Phillies in the game.

Laboring to hit 90 mph with his fastball, Halladay allowed the first three batters of the game to reach, then gave up a sacrifice fly. Wilson Ramos hit into a double play to end the rally and keep Halladay in the game.

He caught another break in the sixth. After retiring the first two batters, Halladay loaded the bases with two outs. Nationals manager Davey Johnson decided to leave Zimmermann in the game, instead of pinch-hitting for a starter at 77 pitches. Zimmermann was retired and Halladay walked off to an ovation.

Halladay left with a 2-1 lead thanks to Cesar Hernandez's two-RBI double in the second inning.

Clearly struggling with his velocity, Halladay went with the soft stuff for most of his final four innings, and had the most effective of his three outings since returning from a rehab assignment. He is a free agent at the end of the season and wants to prove to the Phillies, or any team, that he can still be a reliable starter. He'll have three or four more starts in the final month to prove he can come close to his former All-Star form.

Zimmermann got out of his own jam in the seventh thanks to a fantastic defense play. Hernandez hit a grounder into the hole that second baseman Steve Lombardozzi fielded and one-hopped to Zimmerman at the bag for the third out to prevent the tying run from scoring.

(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)