D'Angelo "Red Hot" Jimenez gets the start at short for Washington tonight and leads off the game against Philadelphia's left-handed ace Cole Hamels. Jimenez lines to center for the first out, and Ronnie Belliard singles for the first hit, though Shane Victorino, who was shallow in right almost threw Belliard out at first. Ryan Zimmerman flies out to left on a change, and Hamels gets Austin Kearns to do the same to end the top of the first.
Jimmy Rollins pops out short left to a sprinting Wily Mo Pena who makes a running underhand catch for the first out of the frame. Shane Victorino reaches on an infield single up the middle. Redding pops up Chase Utley and strike out Ryan Howard to end a scoreless first inning of play.
Wily Mo Pena blows a low liner by Ryan Howard at first to start the second, and moves to second one out later on Jesus Flores' single to center. Justin Maxwell backspins a change into short center for the third straight single to load the bases for Redding. Redding grounds to short, Rollins to Utley to Howard on the inning ending DP.
Tim Redding issues a one-out walk to Pat Burrell in the second. Redding gets Greg Dobbs looking at a cut fastball on the outside corner. Redding throws two high fastballs by Philly catcher Carlos Ruiz and then gets him trying to check his swing at on off-speed pitch for strike three to end the Philly second.
D'Angelo Jimenez watches a Cole Hamels' curve break into the zone for strike three to start the top of the third. Ronnie Belliard grounds back to the mound. Hamels blows a high fastball by Zimmerman to end the Nationals third. Redding gets the first two outs of the bottom of the third. Ronnie Belliard boots a grounder from Victorino, who speeds safely to first, but is then caught stealing by Jesus Flores for the last out of the third. 0-0.
Hamels fools Kearns with a 2-2 curve on the outside corner for the first out of the fourth. Wily Mo Pena swings over another breaking ball, and Tony Batista gets more of the same as Hamels strikes out the side in the fourth. Austin Kearns checks the scoreboard in right with his shoulder as he robs Ryan Howard of a line drive hit for the second out of the bottom of the fourth. Aaron Rowand singles. Redding pops Burrell out to right to end the fourth scoreless inning.
Hamels blows Jesus Flores away upstairs for his fifth straight K to start the fifth. Justin Maxwell lines a two-strike single through short. Tim Redding pops out on a bunt attempt on a curve. D'Angelo Jimenez chases a change for a swinging strike three. Hamels is through five.
Gregg Dobbs singles off Redding to start the Phillies half. Redding hits Carlos Ruiz upstairs, but luckily his hand protects his face. Hamels bunts both runners into scoring position. Jimmy Rollins singles up the middle. Two runs score. 2-0 Phillly. Victorino pops out to third. Chase Utley up next. Rollins steals second. Utley doubles off the scoreboard in right. Rollins scores. 3-0 Phils. Ryan Howard gets the intentionals. Redding gets Rowand to fly out to left to end the fifth.
Belliard strikes out swinging over a curve for the first out of the sixth and the eigth K for Cole Hamels. Hamels blows away Zimmerman upstairs for number nine. Kearns goes down chasing strike three off the outside edge for Hamels' tenth K of the evening.
Pat Burrell hits a leadoff double to left off Redding in the sixth. Manny Acta, Nationals Manager makes the slow walk out to the mound and calls on Big John Albaladejo to get the Nationals through six. D'Angelo Jimenez boots a grounder from Carlos Ruiz. Albaladejo gets a double play grounder from Hamels, but the throw from second pulls Batista off the bag. Burrell scores. 4-0 Phillies after six.
Hamels walks Wily Mo Pena to start the seventh. Tony Batista pops up to Utley. Aaron Rowand slides in and steals a bloop single from Jesus Flores. Justin Maxwell swings through a fastball. 11 K's. 4-0 Phils after six and a half. Arnie Munoz hits Chase Utley with one down in the bottom of the frame. Ryan Howard takes Munoz deeeep to left center and GONE!! 6-0 Phils. Chris Schroder replaces Munoz and lets two men on with only one out. Schroder walks Abraham Nunez to load the bases. Carlos Ruiz swings through a fastball upstairs. Cole Hamels strikes out to end the seventh.
Nook Logan swings over a fastball.Twelve K's. D'Angelo "Red Hot" Jimenez doubles down the line in left off of Hamels. Ronnie Belliard grounds out to Utley. Jimenez takes third. Ryan Zimmerman gets blown away by Hamels for the thirteenth K and eigth scoreless. 6-0 Phillies middle of eight. Jesus "Everyday" Colome pitches a scoreless frame to end the eigth.
Three outs to get six runs off Clay Condrey in the ninth. Kearns takes one in the ribs to give the Nationals a runner. Wily Mo Pena grounds out for the first out. Kearns to second. Tony Batista pops out to the infield. Jesus Flores swings over strike three to end it. Phillies win 6-0 and for a little while at least they're alone in first. NY down 7-4 to Florida in the 7th.
Nationals now 72-88.