Strasburg, Wieters Lead Nationals Past Phillies 5-3
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Stephen Strasburg made all the necessary adjustments.
The right-hander threw six effective innings, Matt Wieters hit a solo homer and the Washington Nationals beat the Philadelphia Phillies 5-3 Monday night.
Strasburg (7-7) gave up two runs and five hits, striking out five to rebound from a rough start against Philadelphia last week in his return from the disabled list.
"So many little things hitters try to pick, so you always have to look at the tendencies," Strasburg said. "It was progress."
The Phillies fell 3 1/2 games behind first-place Atlanta in the NL East after losing the opener for the seventh straight series. They're 6-12 since Aug. 8 and have dropped five games in the standings during that span.
Zach Eflin (9-5) allowed five runs — three earned — and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings. His throwing error in the fourth cost him.
The Nationals had the bases loaded with one out that inning when Strasburg put a bunt down. Eflin picked it up barehanded and his underhand toss to the plate sailed high for an error, allowing the go-ahead run to score.
Adam Eaton followed with a slow roller to the same spot and Eflin made the exact same play and got the out at home.
Trea Turner then knocked in another run on a bloop single that fell in because left fielder Rhys Hoskins broke back at first.
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"We gave them additional outs and you can't do that against this team," Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said.
Eaton greeted reliever Luis Avilan with an RBI double in the sixth to make it 5-2.
Hoskins crushed Ryan Madson's first pitch in the eighth for his 27th homer.
Justin Miller tossed a perfect ninth for his first save in his first try in his 39th appearance.
"He comes in and brings so much energy on the mound," Strasburg said. "The hard work pays off."
Washington took two of three from the Phillies at home last week after trading Daniel Murphy to the Cubs and Matt Adams to the Cardinals.
Down 2-0 in the third, the Phillies tied it on an RBI triple by Roman Quinn and an RBI single by Cesar Hernandez. Strasburg struck out Asdrubal Cabrera swinging to strand runners at second and third.
Eflin retired the first two batters before Bryce Harper, Anthony Rendon and Juan Soto hit three straight singles in the first to give the Nationals a 1-0 lead.
Wieters led off the second with his sixth homer to make it 2-0. He said he was using a new bat after realizing the one he used the past few games was cracked.
Strasburg allowed five runs and seven hits over four innings in Washington's 8-7 win against Philadelphia last Wednesday.
"He was able to locate his fastball, throw a high fastball, and made corrections since the last start," Wieters said.
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