Phillies Drop Series To Nats After 3-2 Loss

WASHINGTON (AP) — Gio Gonzalez pitched seven sharp innings, Anthony Rendon doubled home the tiebreaking run and the NL East-leading Washington Nationals defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 3-2 on Sunday.

Gonzalez (11-9) gave up one run on four hits, striking out five with one walk. He bounced back from a rough outing against Atlanta in his last start when he allowed six runs in three innings.

It was 1-all when Bryce Harper drew a leadoff walk from starter Adam Morgan (2-10) to open the seventh. Rendon then doubled to the wall in left-center off reliever Edubray Ramos and later scored on a passed ball by catcher A.J. Ellis.

Mark Melancon pitched the ninth for his 41st save and 11th with Washington.

Tommy Joseph hit a tying homer for the Phillies in the seventh. Freddy Galvis homered in the eighth.

Washington turned three double plays, including in the eighth inning when the Phillies had runners on first and second with one out.

The Nationals took the final three games of the four-game series.

Gonzalez had retired nine straight when Joseph connected for his 18th home run of the season.

Since July 10, Gonzalez is 7-1 with a 3.51 ERA in 12 starts, a welcome development for Washington in light of the uncertainty surrounding Stephen Strasburg. He matched his longest outing of the season.

Morgan was looking to win back-to-back starts for the first time in his career. He allowed two runs on three hits over six innings plus one batter in his third straight solid effort.

Washington took a 1-0 lead in the first. Trea Turner led off with a single and scored on Daniel Murphy's major league-leading 42nd double.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Phillies: 3B Maikel Franco (jammed right thumb), who pinch hit Saturday night, was out of the starting lineup for a fifth straight game.

UP NEXT

Phillies: RHP Jeremy Hellickson (10-9, 3.90 ERA) starts when the Phillies host the Pirates Monday in the first of four games. Hellickson is 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA in his last three starts. He's 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA in two career starts versus the Pirates.

Nationals: The Nationals have not announced who will start when they open a three-game home series on Monday against the Mets.

(© Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)