Box Score (From ESPN.com)
By Zach Geibler
The Phillies came into Wednesday night's game against the Nationals looking for the series win, instead they caught a dominant starting pitcher and an offense with some pop.
The Washington Nationals beat the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park by a final score of 5-1.
All-star and possible Cy Young candidate Cliff Lee took the mound, having won 8 games without a loss in between.
He was opposed by Washington starter Gio Gonzalez, a former 20-win pitcher, and a usual problem for the Phillies' bats.
The first four innings yielded a pitching duel, as expected from the two starters. No hitters on either team seemed to be able to get good swings off of the opposing pitcher.
But in the fifth inning, the Nats were the first to score on a solo shot by second basemen Anthony Rendon. The very next batter, Wilson Ramos, also hit a solo home run. With a pair of home runs, back-to-back, the Nats had the early lead.
The sixth inning called for some deja vu. Cliff Lee still on the mound, gave up another set of back-to-back home runs to the Nationals' offense.
This time Ryan Zimmerman blasted a solo home run, and Jayson Werth followed with a solo shot of his own, his second home run of this series. The Nats lead 4-0
The Phillies simply could not bat in runs today. Gio Gonzalez once again got the better of the Phillies offense. He pitched seven strong innings, only giving up one run and striking out five.
That one glimmer of offense came from minor league call-up and power hitting prodigy Darin Ruf, who hit an opposite field solo home run in the seventh, his first of his 2013 campaign.
The Nationals were able to score one more run in the ninth inning, off of a throwing error by reliever Jake Diekman. Denard Span reached second while Anothony Rendon scored his second run of the game.
In the bottom of the ninth, Nationals closer Rafael Soriano retired the Phillies in order to finish off the team and the game.
The win went to Gio Gonzalez, who is now 7-3. The loss went to Cliff Lee. This is only his third loss of 2013. He is 10-3.
The Phillies look to rebound from this loss and take the series tomorrow night, before the Chicago White Sox come to town for three games to close out the first half of the season.
(Image from the Associated Press)
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