Rupp's 9th-Inning Hit Lifts Phils Over Nats 3-0 For Sweep
WASHINGTON (AP) — Cameron Rupp hit a tiebreaking, two-run double off Jonathan Papelbon in a three-run ninth inning, and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Washington Nationals 3-0 Thursday to complete a three-game sweep.
Aaron Nola, Dalier Hinojosa, Elvis Araujo (1-0) and Jeanmar Gomez combined on a four-hitter and extended Washington's scoreless streak to 22 innings.
Philadelphia has won six of seven and at 12-10 moved two games over .500. The Phillies swept a series in Washington for the first time since May 2009.
Odubel Herrera singled off Felipe Rivero (0-1) opening the ninth and took third on Freddy Galvis' double.
Maikel Franco was walked intentionally, and Papelbon came in to strike out pinch-hitter Darin Ruf. Rupp hit a drive to deep right that landed over a backpedaling Bryce Harper at the warning track, and David Lough followed with a run-scoring single boosted the lead.
Gomez pitched a one-hit ninth for his seventh save in seven chances — his third in three days — getting Jayson Werth to ground into a game-ending double play.
In a game delayed by 36 minutes at the start because of rain, Harper went 1 for 4 on the fourth anniversary of his major league debut. The NL MVP struck out against Araujo with two outs and the bases loaded in the eighth.
Nola, 0-1 with a 7.80 ERA in three prior starts versus Washington, gave up two hits and struck out seven in seven innings.
Washington's Tanner Roark, who struck out a career-high 15 in his previous outing, fanned six as he yielded two hits over seven innings for his second straight start.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Nationals: Manager Dusty Baker rested CF Michael Taylor and 3B Anthony Rendon from his starting lineup. using with Matt den Dekker in center and Stephen Drew at third. Rendon pinch hit in the eighth.
UP NEXT
Phillies: Adam Morgan (0-0) is likely to be called up to start Friday's series opener against Cleveland.
Nationals: Stephen Strasburg (3-0, 2.17), the top pick in the 2009 amateur draft, is to start Friday at St. Louis against Mike Leake (0-2, 5.64), taken by Cincinnati with the eighth pick that June.
