Phillies Snap 6-Game Skid, Defeat Nationals 5-3
WASHINGTON (AP) — Odubel Herrera had three hits and scored twice, Aaron Harang pitched six innings and the Philadelphia Phillies snapped a six-game losing streak with a 5-3 win over the Washington Nationals on Saturday.
Freddy Galvis had two RBI singles for Philadelphia, which had scored 13 runs over its last six games.
Bryce Harper hit a long home run for Washington, which had won three straight. Ian Desmond added three hits, but the shortstop continued to struggle in the field, committing two errors that contributed to a pair of runs.
Harang (2-1) gave up three runs and seven hits. He struck out six and walked two.
Jonathan Papelbon pitched the ninth for his third save.
Jordan Zimmermann (1-2) allowed two earned and four hits over 6 1-3 innings. He improved on Monday's outing at Boston in which he gave up eight runs in 2 1-3 innings.
The Phillies broke a 3-all tie in the seventh when Ryan Howard walked, pinch runner Ben Revere stole second and went to third on a flyout.
With the infield in, pinch hitter Grady Sizemore hit a bouncer to first and Revere beat Ryan Zimmerman's throw to the plate.
Harper tied it at 3 with his fourth homer of the year, a towering shot that hit the top of the green wall well beyond the center field fence in the fifth.
Desmond's latest defensive troubles enabled the Phillies to take a 2-1 lead in the third. He bobbled Harang's one-out bouncer, and when Harang was ruled safe after a review, Desmond had his eighth error in 12 games.
After Herrera's double, Galvis' single scored Harang and sent Herrera to third. Chase Utley then hit a potential inning-ending, double-play grounder to Dan Uggla, but Desmond, attempting to transfer the ball to his throwing hand, dropped it. Utley was safe at first and Herrera scored.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Phillies: OF Domonic Brown (left Achilles tendinitis) continued his rehab, playing for Triple-A Lehigh Valley against Buffalo.
Nationals: SS Yunel Escobar, who left Friday night's game with a strained groin, was scheduled to have an MRI. ... OF Denard Span (core muscle surgery) worked out at Nationals Park and could be activated on Sunday.
UP NEXT
Phillies: David Buchanan (0-2, 11.42) makes his second career start against the Nationals. He allowed seven runs and 10 hits in six innings in a loss at Philadelphia last June.
Nationals: Stephen Strasburg (0-1, 6.75) tries to get his 2015 season on track. Last time out, he allowed five earned runs and 10 hits over 5 1-3 innings of a no-decision at Boston.
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