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Nats win slugfest against Phils

Baseball Betting Lines

09/03/2008 - Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ronnie Belliard had the go-ahead RBI single in the eighth and Cristian Guzman hit a bases-clearing, three-run double to put the game out of reach as the Nationals notched a 9-7 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies in the rubber match of a three-game set from Nationals Park.

Ryan Zimmerman homered and doubled to finish with two RBI and as many runs scored while Guzman finished with three hits and a pair of runs scored for Washington, which has won an impressive eight of nine overall. Saul Rivera (5-5) got the win after pitching a scoreless eighth.

Ryan Howard belted two home runs with four RBI while Chase Utley finished with a pair of RBI for Philadelphia, which dropped two of three in the series to fall three game back of the NL-East leading New York Mets, who posted a 9-2 win over Milwaukee earlier Wednesday.

Starter Joe Blanton recorded his sixth straight no-decision after allowing four runs on six hits and three walks over four-plus innings for the Phils, while Odalis Perez surrendered three runs on four hits over five frames without walking a batter while striking out five for the Nats.

Chad Durbin (5-4) remained in the eighth after coming on in the seventh and allowed a leadoff single to Kory Casto. Pete Orr came on as a pinch-runner, moved to second on a wild pitch and to third on a Roger Bernadina single. Pinch-hitter Belliard then gave Washington the lead with a single to left.

J.C. Romero entered for Durbin with one away and Bernadina stole third before Emilio Bonifacio walked to load the bases. Guzman then stroked a bases- clearing double to the gap in left-center and the Nats had a 9-5 advantage.

Closer Joel Hanrahan took the mound in a non-save situation in the ninth and gave up an RBI double to Matt Stairs and a sac fly to Utley, but was able to ultimately preserve the win.

Philadelphia jumped out to an early lead in the opening frame when Howard deposited a blast over the wall in right-center for a 2-0 advantage.

The Nationals, however, evened the score in the next inning. Guzman got a base-hit through the left side and scored on a Zimmerman double to right. Lastings Milledge popped up for the second out, but Casto came through with a two-out RBI single to left.

The Phillies took the lead in the third when Jimmy Rollins got on with a single, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored easily when Utley ripped a triple to deep center.

The Nationals came back to take a 4-3 lead after loading the bases with no outs in the fifth. Blanton exited in favor of Ryan Madson, who allowed a pair of runs to score on consecutive fielder's choice groundouts from Milledge and Elijah Dukes before getting Casto on strikes to end the inning.

The lead was short-lived, however, as Howard cranked out his second two-run homer of the night for a 5-4 Phillies lead off the newly inserted Marco Estrada.

Scott Eyre got two quick outs to start the seventh before Durbin entered to face Zimmerman, who tied the game with a home run over the center field wall.

Game Notes

The Phillies lead the season series 9-6 including a 6-3 mark in Washington... Philadelphia is 3-4 so far on a 10-game trek and open a big three-game series against the Mets at Shea Stadium on Friday...Howard hit his 38th and 39th home runs of the season and now has a NL-best 119 RBI.