Phils Bats Shutdown by Strasburg, Nats
Nationals starter Steven Strasburg may have only gone 4 1/3rd innings due to an arm injury, but his presence was felt in that short time, striking out 6 phils, and setting the pace in a Nats 8-1 blowout win over the Phils. Kyle Kendrick was lit up for 5 runs in 5 2/3rd innings. The Phils bats only registered 4 hits for a 2nd consecutive night. In his 1st game back, Ryan Howard was 1 for 4, including a ground out rbi, scoring the Phils only run of the night.
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Roger Bernadina belted a three-run homer, and the Washington Nationals, despite losing phenom pitcher Stephen Strasburg to injury, defeated the Philadelphia Phillies, 8-1, in the second of three games at Citizens Bank Park.
Strasburg lasted 4 1/3 frames, giving up one run on two hits while fanning six, before exiting with a strained flexor tendon in his forearm. He winced sharply after throwing a pitch and shook his right arm in pain and was forced to exit the game. He will undergo an MRI on Sunday.
Doug Slaton (3-1) earned the win for 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief. Ian Desmond tied a career high with four hits and scored twice, while Adam Kennedy and Ivan Rodriguez drove in two runs apiece in Washington's second win in three games.
Ryan Howard drove in the lone run in his first game back from the disabled list, as Philadelphia fell for the second time in three games. Kyle Kendrick (8-6) struggled in 5 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on nine hits and four walks.
The Nationals jumped on Kendrick for three runs in the first.
Desmond reached on a one-out infield single, and Adam Dunn drew a four-pitch walk. After a groundout, Kendrick walked the next two batters -- going 3-0 to both hitters -- to force in a run. Rodriguez followed with a two-run single for a three-run cushion.
Washington added two more runs in the third.
Ryan Zimmerman doubled to lead off, and Bernadina singled him to third. Kennedy's base hit plated Zimmerman, and Rodriguez's infield hit loaded the bases with nobody out. The Nats could manage only one more run on Strasburg's fielder's choice groundout, narrowly avoiding the inning-ending double play to score Bernadina for a 5-0 advantage.
The Phillies manufactured a run in the fourth, as Placido Polanco doubled to start the frame and moved up a base each on two consecutive groundouts, the latter by Howard, for a four-run margin.
Philadelphia put runners at the corners with one out in the sixth off Craig Stammen, but Chase Utley popped out and Howard struck out to end the threat.
Bernadina's three-run homer off Chad Durbin in the ninth accounted for the final score.
Game Notes
Howard played for the first time since August 1 and went 1-for-3. To make room on the roster, Philadelphia retroactively placed first baseman Ross Gload on the disabled list. He hasn't played since August 18 (groin)...The Phillies still lead the season series, 6-5...Strasburg hasn't earned a win since July 21...In the two games of this series, Washington has outhit Philadelphia, 22-8.
