Phillies 3, Nationals 2
WASHINGTON -- Nate Schierholtz made his debut with the Phillies a memorable one, hitting the tie-breaking homer in the fifth inning that gave Philadelphia a 3-2 victory over Washington on Wednesday night.
Jimmy Rollins hit a pair of solo homers for the Phillies' other two runs off Washington starter Edwin Jackson (6-7), who gave up all three homers in his 5 2/3-inning effort.
Schierholtz, acquired from the Giants as part of Tuesday's trade for Hunter Pence, homered to right to give the Phillies (47-57) a 3-2 lead in the top of the fifth. That came one pitch after Rollins led off the inning with his second homer of the night.
The Phillies made that lead stand up. Starter Vance Worley (6-6) gave up two runs in the first and nothing else in his seven-inning stint.
He scattered four hits in his final six innings, even though the right-hander never struck out a batter. Jonathan Papelbon closed it in the ninth for his 23rd save.
The Nationals (61-42) scored twice in the first for a 2-0 lead. Adam LaRoche got an RBI single with the bases loaded, and Danny Espinosa drove in a second run on an odd force play at second.
Espinosa hit what looked like a double-play grounder to second. But Chase Utley bobbled the ball while trying to pitch it to shortstop Jimmy Rollins. However, when the ball fell to the ground, it rolled right to Rollins to complete the force.
Still, the Nationals got a run on the play for the early two-run lead. Jackson reached on an infield single in the second and tried to score on a Bryce Harper single, but left fielder Domonic Brown threw him out at the plate.
The Phillies cut the lead to 2-1 in the third when Rollins belted a long solo homer over the right-field bullpen, into the second deck.
Rollins then tied it with his second homer of the night, another solo shot to right, leading off the fifth. One pitch later, Schierholtz hit the tie-breaking shot -- the fifth time this season Philadelphia has had back-to-back homers.
NOTES: Nationals manager Davey Johnson held third baseman Ryan Zimmerman out of the lineup for the second consecutive game. Zimmerman's back was bothering him since sliding in Sunday's win over the Brewers. But he's doing much better and should return for Thursday's series finale. ... Johnson also will have starters Gio Gonzalez and Jordan Zimmermann trade spots in the rotation this weekend. Gonzalez now is going to pitch Friday against the Marlins while Zimmermann starts Saturday. Zimmermann's been having some problems with shoulder inflammation, and the switch gives him six days of rest. It will be the normal four for Gonzalez, who last pitched Sunday. ... The Phillies made a number of moves Wednesday: Pitcher Josh Lindblom and outfielder Schierholtz, acquired in trades on Tuesday, were added to the roster; pitchers Jake Diekman and Joe Savery were optioned to Class AAA Lehigh Valley; infielder Mike Fontenot was designated for assignment; and the Phillies recalled infielder/outfielder Michael Martinez to take his roster spot. ... Carlos Ruiz (foot/plantar fasciitis) was held out of Wednesday's starting lineup and is considered day-to-day. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported the Phils might consider letting Ruiz play some third base next year.
