Washington Nationals fall to Philadelphia Phillies, 4-2 on Cesar Hernandez homer in 8th...

Tanner Roark did what he could while he was in the game this afternoon, limiting the Philadelphia Phillies to two runs on four hits and collecting two hits of his own on the day.

Washington trailed 2-1 through six, however, as Philly right-hander Jeremy Hellickson once again stymied the Nationals’ hitters, just as he did in five scoreless last weekend in Citizens Bank Park.

Chris Heisey came up big in the seventh, however, lining a 1-1 change from Hellickson to left and over the outfield wall for a game-tying solo shot, his first of 2017, 2-2.

It didn’t stay tied for long, however, as Joe Blanton came on and hit the first batter he faced, then, one out later, gave up a two-run bomb to right by Cesar Hernandez, 4-2.

That’s how it ended...

Nationals now 6-5

Here’s how it happened:

• Jeremy Hellickson was up to seven-straight batters set down to start today’s game, and 7.0 scoreless vs the Nationals this season before Washington struck in the third.

Jose Lobaton walked with one down. Tanner Roark square to bunt then pulled back and singled to right, and one out later, Anthony Rendon hit an RBI single to left to make it 1-0 Nats.

• Tanner Roark retired the first nine batters he faced this afternoon before Cesar Hernandez and Howie Kendrick bunted their way on in back-to-back at bats.

Odubel Herrera followed with an RBI double to left and it was quickly tied up at 1-1.

Maikel Franco’s RBI groundout brought Kendrick in from third and made it 2-1 after three and a half.

• Tanner Roark was 2 for 2 (with two of the Nats’ three hits) after he lined a two-out double to left field in the Nationals’ half of the fifth.

• It was still 2-1 Phillies in the seventh when Chris Heisey got hold of a 1-1 change and put a charge in it, sending a line drive home run to left field to tie it up at 2-2.

It was Heisey’s first of 2017.

• Tanner Roark’s Line: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 Ks, 101 P, 67 S, 11/2 GO/FO.

• Jeremy Hellickson’s Line: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 Ks, 1 HR, 98 P, 63 S, 6/7 GO/FO.

• Freddy Galvis got on via HBP in the eighth, and stole second with pinch hitter Brock Stassi at the plate, then scored the easy way when Cesar Hernandez hit an 0-1 fastball from Joe Blanton to right for a two-run blast, 4-2.

Nationals now 6-5

NATIONALS PREGAME NOTES:

• With last night’s win, the Nationals improved to 14-3 in their last 17 games against the Phillies, and 7-1 in the last eight against Philly in D.C.
• Washington was 14-5 against Philadelphia last season, with an 8-1 record in Citizens Bank Park.
• Philadelphia was 40-45 overall in Nationals Park before today, the second-most wins among visiting teams, behind only the Miami Marlins (41-44).
• Last night’s loss was the Phillies’ fourth straight overall.
• Daniel Murphy went 2 for 5 last night, extending his season-long hit streak to 10 games with his first hit and winning the game with his second.
• It was Murphy’s seventh multi-hit game in seven games this season.
• Tanner Roark was (3-0) against the Phillies in five starts last season with a 0.79 ERA in 34 IP against the Nationals’ NL East rivals.
• The Phillies started the day leading the NL and ranked second in the majors in pitches per plate appearance, with an average of 4.09 per PA so far this season.

Nationals now 6-5