Nicked in the first inning Giants Nate Solder Jersey , Aaron Nola figured he’d be fine if could find his form.
He did, and the Philadelphia Phillies took advantage.
Maikel Franco went 4 for 4, Carlos Santana homered and the Phillies defeated the Washington Nationals 5-3 on Saturday.
”The way (we’ve) been swinging lately, I just felt like if I kept putting up zeros and battling out there they were going to come through and score some more runs,” Nola said.
With the Phillies leading 3-2 in the eighth, Santana sent a drive into the Philadelphia bullpen in left-center field off Kelvin Herrera for his 13th homer of the season and second in two games. Franco later added an RBI single.
The Phillies have won five of six while the Nationals have lost three of four, scoring a total of nine runs. Anthony Rendon homered for Washington.
”Look, I’ve got all the confidence in the world we’re going to start hitting,” manager Dave Martinez said. ”We’ll start scoring some runs. Right now the bullpen is a little beat up. We’ve got to get them going again.”
Nola (9-2) stiffened after giving up two runs in the first inning. He didn’t allow a hit after the second and left following the sixth. He also hit an RBI single.
Seranthony Dominguez worked the ninth for his fourth save.
Erick Fedde (0-3) allowed three runs on eight hits in six-plus innings.
”They have a lot of patient hitters,” Fedde said. ”I think that’s what makes it tough. Guys aren’t swinging at bunch of junk, so you have to attack them.”
With the score 2-all, Franco doubled leading off the seventh and moved to third on a groundout. Pinch-hitter Jesmuel Valentin lifted a fly to right Youth Leighton Vander Esch Jersey , Franco tagged and just beat Adam Eaton’s throw home with the safe call surviving a replay challenge.
”That was just a tremendous all-around baseball game,” Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said of Franco’s day.
Daniel Murphy’s two-run single in the first inning gave Washington the early lead, but the Phillies strung together four two-out singles – the last by Nola – in the second to tie it.
BUNTER’S CHANCE
For the second consecutive game, Harper tried to beat the shift with a first-inning bunt. Friday night, he bunted foul before striking out and Saturday he was thrown out by Nola.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Phillies: RHP Jerad Eickhoff (right lat strain) threw a 35-pitch bullpen session and will likely throw another session in a few days.
Nationals: 1B Ryan Zimmerman (right oblique strain) is expected to go on a rehabilitation assignment within the next week, according to Martinez. … RHP Jeremy Hellickson (right hamstring strain) will pitch Sunday for Class A Potomac and is expected to rejoin the rotation after the one rehab start. … RH reliever Brandon Kintzler (right foreman flexor strain) will also pitch at Potomac on Sunday.
UP NEXT
Phillies: RHP Nick Pivetta (4-6, 4.08) Authentic Marcell Ozuna Jersey , acquired from Washington in the trade for Jonathan Papelbon, pitches the finale. He’s 0-2 with an 11.81 ERA in three starts against the Nationals.
Nationals: RHP Jefry Rodriguez (0-0, 4.66) makes his second big league start.
The Latest on the NFL's national anthem policy (all times local):
6:30 p.m.
President Donald Trump is once again inserting himself into the culture war over protests by NFL athletes during the national anthem.
Trump tweeted on Friday that he "can't believe" the debate has reignited after The Associated Press reported on the Miami Dolphins formally telling players they could be punished for protesting on the field. The NFL and NFL Players Association said in a joint statement Thursday night they were halting enforcement of all anthem rules while they work out a solution.
Trump asks, "Isn't it in contract that players must stand at attention, hand on heart?"
No such requirement exists, but NFL owners voted in May to require players who wish to protest to remain in the locker room during "The Star-Spangled Banner."
Trump is proposing his own penalties, calling on Commissioner Roger Goodell to "take a stand."
Trump tweets: "First time kneeling Authentic Nolan Patrick Jersey , out for game. Second time kneeling, out for season/no pay!"
5 p.m.
Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross says he hadn't decided whether to actually discipline players who protest during the national anthem when he formally told the team that the demonstrations could be punishable.
Ross said in a statement Friday that the one-sentence reference to "Proper Anthem Conduct" in the team's official discipline policy was merely a placeholder as the organization tried to comply with league rules.
The team's policy was obtained Thursday by The Associated Press and listed anthem conduct under behavior that could be found "detrimental to the club." The NFL and NFL Players Association said in a joint statement Thursday night that they planned to pause enforcement on league anthem rules while working out a resolution acceptable to players, team owners and the league.
Discord over how players should protest social injustice has put the sport at a difficult crossroads, revealing deep divisions in football itself much like those throughout the United States.
A person familiar with league protocol told The Associated Press on Friday that NFL teams were not required to create any anthem policies when they submitted their annual discipline notices to the league and players. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because details of anthem discussions between the league and players union are private.