Philadelphia @ Washington preview
Nationals Park
Last Meeting ( Jul 31, 2010 ) Philadelphia 5, Washington 7
The standings may say otherwise, but the Washington Nationals are having their way with the National League East as of late.
After taking two of three from the division-leading Atlanta Braves, the last-place Nationals cooled down the previously red-hot Philadelphia Phillies by claiming the first two contests of the three-game series.
Washington (46-58) will look finish off its first sweep of Philadelphia (56-48) in nearly seven years on Sunday.
Winners of five of their last six, the Nationals sit a distant 13 1/3 games behind Atlanta. For their part, the Phillies rest 3 1/2 behind the Braves but that margin might be smaller had they won more than just 15 of 34 games against their NL East counterparts this season.
Saturday's contest didn't help matters in that department. Ryan Zimmerman belted a three-run home run off closer Brad Lidge in the bottom of the ninth inning as Washington rallied for a 7-5 triumph.
Roger Bernadina, Ivan Rodriguez and Josh Willingham all had RBI singles and Ian Desmond added a run-scoring sacrifice fly for the Nationals.
After Carlos Ruiz blasted a solo homer and plated Jayson Werth in the ninth inning to give Philadelphia a 5-4 lead, Washington went to work against Lidge.
The closer allowed a leadoff single to Michael Morse and, after Nyjer Morgan sacrificed him over to second, Adam Kennedy walked to put two runners on base.
Zimmerman then promptly belted his 18th home run of the season to deep center to end the game and hand Philadelphia its second straight loss after winning its previous eight contests.
Washington will vie for the sweep behind John Lannan (2-5, 5.76 ERA), who will be making his first start for the Nationals since June 20. The 25-year-old left-hander was promptly shuffled to Double-A Harrisburg the following day.
Lannan has struggled mightily against the Phillies, posting an 0-7 career mark with a 6.32 ERA. The Nationals' Opening Day starter, Lannan labored through 3 2/3 innings and permitted five runs en route to an 11-1 loss to Philadelphia on April 5.
Philadelphia will counter with Cole Hamels (7-7, 3.48 ERA). The 26-year-old left-hander has notched three consecutive no-decisions, including his last effort on Tuesday, when he permitted three runs and six hits in five innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The 2008 World Series Most Valuable Player had allowed one run and 15 hits in his previous 22 2/3 innings - with just one win to show for it.