Nationals blank Phils in series finale

August 2, 2012

Box Score (Courtesy of ESPN.com)

CSNPhilly.com, US Presswire

The Phillies took the first two games in their road series against Washington and were looking for the sweep.

Unfortuantely, the offense just was not there.

Nationals' starting pitcher Ross Detwiler (6-4) pitched seven shutout innings en route to a 3-0 win.

Detwiler threw three strikeouts and allowed only three hits and two walks.

The Phillies did have an oppurtunity to drive in a run in the second inning.

With one out and John Mayberry Jr. at second, Dominic Brown at first, Michael Martinez singled into right field.

Mayberry ran for home, but was thrown out at the plate by Bryce Harper. Sandy Leon was able to apply the tag at home.

Cole Hamels (11-5) got off to a rough start, giving up a solo home run to Adam LaRoche in the second inning, then giving up two more runs in the third.

With runners on first and second, Adam LaRoche got his second RBI of the night. He singled into center field to score Ryan Zimmerman.

Then Jayson Werth, who returned to Washington's lineup after being out since May 6th with a broken wrist, grounded out. Michael Morse scored on the play with one out to make it 3-0.

Hamels would not allow any more runs after the third though. He would go on to pitch seven innings with nine strike outs and a walk.

Hamels allowed eight hits and three earned runs in his second consecutive loss since signing his six-year contract extension with the Phillies.

Michael Schwimer pitched in the eighth for the Phils. He gave up no runs or hits, walking only two.

Sean Burnett pitched a perfect eighth for the Nationals, and Tyler Clippard pitched in the ninth for his 21st save of the season.

The Phillies return home to Citizens Bank Park to open up a three game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night.

Joe Blanton (8-9, 4.59 ERA) is scheduled to pitch against Arizona's Ian Kennedy (9-8, 4.20 ERA) to start the series.