Something's Rotten In NatsTown, Washington Nationals Lose 10-6 To Phillies In Extra Innings.

Of the 5-6,000 fans (and I'm being generous there) who were still around to see last night's extra inning affair between the Washington Nationals and Philadelphia Phillies end, it would not be an exaggeration to say that 3,500 or so were Philly fans, who sat astonished as the Nationals rallied to tie it at 6-6 in the bottom of the ninth and then quickly returned to their, "Told You So" machismo as soon as the Phillies regained the lead in the twelfth. 

The Phillies' fans rose in unison when Nationals' reliever Kip Wells gave up three straight walks to load the bases in the top of the twelfth, and there weren't enough of the DC Faithful around to drown out the "Let's Go Phillies" chants which broke out all around Nationals Park. The chants quickly changed to cheers when the Phillies broke it open, scoring four on a single, an error and an RBI double. 10-6 Philadelphia after eleven and a half...and despite two walks, the Nationals fail to mount a second comeback in the home half of the frame, and Washington takes another loss.

Ryan Zimmerman's one game into his new hitting streak, going 3 for 6 against Philadelphia, with a double, an RBI and a .362 AVG after the game. Adam Dunn walked three times and went 2 for 3 with 2 singles, but after Dunn hit a weak grounder with two on in the ninth, which got Nick Johnson forced out at third, it was all up to Willie Harris, who came through with a line drive single to right that scored two, and was hit so hard it actually allowed Dunn to score from first with the game-tying run. 

The Nationals score 6 runs on 8 hits, but the Nationals' pitchers walk 9 and surrender 10 runs on 16 hits, with 8 of the 9 walks given up by the DC Bullpen, after starter John Lannan allows 6 hits, 3 ER's and 1 walk in 5.2 IP, during which he collects 2 K's. Jesus Colome gives up a walk and single without retiring a batter, and both runners score when Philly first baseman Ryan Howard launches a HR to center off Nationals' lefty Joe Beimel.

The Nationals lose the 22nd of 33 games they've played so far this season...What reason is Washington giving the DC Faithful to keep coming to the park? Are there relievers anywhere in the system who can throw strikes? Will anyone be around to watch them when and if they're brought up to pitch in Nationals Park? 

Phillies win, 10-6 final. 

Missed the Game? We Didn't. Check Out What The DC Faithful Saw In Last Night's Phillies/Nationals GameThread.

Nationals now 11-22-1.