Philadelphia's leadoff batter Jimmy Rollins lines out to Washington center fielder Ryan Church. Shawn Hill gets a ground out from Chase Utley and a pop fly from Pat Burrell to end a scoreless top of the first for the Nationals. Philadelphia starter Adam Eaton walks Felipe Lopez to lead off the Nationals half. Ronnie Belliard's back in the two spot. Belliard singles through second. Ryan Zimmerman grounds into a force at second. Wily Mo Pena takes an inside pitch on the elbow to load the bases for Ryan Church. Church flies out to center, and Felipe Lopez chooses not to test Aaron Rowand's arm. Austin Kearns takes an RBI walk to make it 1-0 Washington. Robert Fick flies to left to end the first.
Ryan How...hard did he hit that 2-1 sinker? A: Hard enough to drive it to the opposite field for a solo shot to left as Ryan Howard ties the game with one swing off Shawn Hill. 1-1 ballgame. Shawn Hill issues a two-out walk to Jayson Werth though the full count pitch was a strike. Philly catcher Carlos Ruiz grounds out to short to end the top of the second. Felipe Lopez reaches on a two-out infield single through the right side of the infield, and he's running when Ronnie Belliard singles through the left side. First and third for Zimmerman... who goes to a full count, and chases ball four out of the zone for a swinging strike three to end the second.
Jimmy Rollins singles up the middle with one out in the third, and takes third when Shawn Hill throws away a pickoff attempt with Chase Utley at the plate. Utley lines one to right to score Rollins. 2-1 Philly. Pat Burrell gets hold of a fastball inside and makes it 4-1 Philly with a fly ball to left that never comes down. Adam Eaton issues a one-out walk to Ryan Church but holds the 4-1 Philly lead through three.
Hill retires the Phillies in order in the fourth. Eaton goes through the eight, nine and leadoff batters to retire the side in the bottom of the frame. Shawn Hill shatters Eaton's bat and gets the first out of the fifth on a weak grounder from the opposing pitcher. Hill hangs a fastball to Jimmy Rollins, and J-Roll lines it out to right quicker than Kearns can turn to chase it. 5-1 Philly. Ryan Howard hits a two-out double to score Chase Utley from second. 6-1 Phillies lead. Hill's done for tonight, Mike Bacsik's on in relief and he ends the fifth.
THE KIDS CALL HIM ZIM!! THE KIDS CALL HIM ZIM!!! Ryan Zimmerman doubles off the wall in left with one out in the Nationals fifth. Wily Mo Pena gets hit on the hands and has to show the Ump his swollen fingers before he's convinced to offer Pena a pass. Ryan Church can't lay off the breaking balls in the dirt as he strikes out. Austin Kearns walks to load the bases for Robert Fick. Fick singles up the middle, Zimmerman scores, Pena scores, 6-3 Philly after five.
Bacsik comes back out to pitch the sixth for Washington. Pinch hitter Abraham Nunez tales a leadoff walk. Bacsik gets a fly ball out from Jayson Werth. Carlos Ruiz grounds to Belliard, who tosses to Lopez, who steps on the bag and throws in time for the inning ending DP. D'Angelo Jimenez walks to start the sixth and chase Adam Eaton. Geoff Geary comes on in relief for the Phillies in the sixth. Jimenez moves to second on a ground out from Felipe Lopez. Ryan Zimmerman takes a full count fastball over the middle for strike three.
Saul "Sa-ool" Rivera takes over the pitching duties in the top of the seventh. Ryan Church moves to left, Nook Logan on in center, as Wily Mo Pena leaves after getting hit twice on the hands. Rivera gets Chris Coste on a check-swing strike three. Rollins flies out to Logan. Chase Utley lines out to second to end the top of the seventh. Stand up and stretch...
Geoff Geary gets the first two outs in the bottom of the seventh, but gives up an infield single that Austin Kearns beats out in spite of an amazing stab by Abraham Nunez to make it close. J.C. Romero comes on in relief and gets a ground ball out from the Professional Pinch Hitter Tony Batista to end the seventh. 6-3 Philly.
Saul Rivera gets Pat Burrell swinging over a curve for the first out of the eigth. Ryan Howard is a triple away from the cycle as he comes up to bat in the eigth, but he has to settle for a single through the exaggerated shift for his fourth hit of the game. Aaron Rowand grounds to Zimmerman to Belliard to Batista, double play to end the top of the inning.
Tom "Flash" Gordon comes on in the eigth. Justin Maxwell leads off the inning. J-Max grounds out to Nunez at third. Ryan Langerhans hits for the pitcher, or bats at least as he goes down looking. Felipe Lopez flies out to left. Luis Ayala's on for the top of the ninth. Cristian Guzman takes the field for the first time since June 24th. Ayala gives up a single and a walk, but throws a scoreless frame to hold the Phillies lead at 6-3.
Three outs to get three runs against Philly closer Brett Myers. Ronnie Belliard grounds out to short. Ryan Zimmerman flies out to Ryan Howard behind first. Nook Logan lines out to second. Utley's got it. Phillies win. 6-3 final.
Nationals now 68-86.