Cole Hamels Dominant As Phillies Beat Nationals 4-1

The Phillies were mired in the midst of a 4 game losing streak and badly needed one of their stoppers to step up. Tonight, Cole Hamels did just that

Phillies Vs. Nationals, Game 3: Cole Hamels Latest To Attempt Ending Philadelphia's Skid

The Philadelphia Phillies look to snap a four-game skid on Wednesday night when they finish a three-game set with the Washington Nationals at Citizen's Bank Park. (Game Time: 7:05 p.m. ET, TV Schedule: CSN Philly, ESPN 2)

Philadelphia dropped the first two games of the series, including a 5-2 defeat Tuesday night with Roy Halladay on the mound. Halladay coughed up five runs, including four in the third inning, and lasted just six innings for his second-shortest stint of the season.

The Phillies will look to Cole Hamels to stop the bleeding Wednesday night. He will be opposed by Edwin Jackson.

The Phillies have lost six straight at home.

For more on the Phillies, please check out our blog The Good Phight and SB Nation Philly for all the latest news and updates.

Nationals 5, Phillies 2: Philadelphia Loses Season-High 4th Straight

The Philadelphia Phillies lost to the Washington Nationals, 5-2, on Tuesday night to fall to 0-2 in the three-game series at Citizens Bank Park. The loss was the Phillies' fourth straight for what is now their longest losing streak of the season. Roy Halladay (L, 4-4) lasted six innings for his second shortest outing of the season. He gave up nine hits, two for home runs, and five earned runs while striking out six.

Halladay gave up four runs in third inning alone. Bryce Harper hit a two-run triple to give the Nationals the lead for good. Ian Desmond hit a solo home run three batters later to put Washington up 4-1. That lead extended to 5-1 in the fourth when Halladay gave up another homer, this time to Rick Ankiel, to lead off the inning.

Nationals starter Jordan Zimmerman (W, 3-4) gave up seven hits in his six innings on the mound, but was tagged with just one earned run. The Phillies went up 1-0 in the second inning when Hector Luna hit a ground rule double over the the center field fence to score Hunter Pence. They wouldn't score again until Zimmerman left the mound. Erik Kratz pinch-hit a home run off Tom Gorzelanny in the eighth inning to cap the scoring at 5-2. The dinger was Kratz' first hit this season in four at-bats.

The Phillies are now 21-23 on the season, and 5.5 games behind the first-place Nationals in the NL East. Game 3 of the series will pit Philadelphia's Cole Hamel (4-4, 2.48 ERA) against Washington's Edwin Jackson (1-1, 3.31) on the mound at 7:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday night.

For more on the Phillies, please check out our blog The Good Phight and SB Nation Phillyfor all the latest news and updates.

Phillies Vs. Nationals: Jimmy Rollins On Paternity Leave, Not In Tuesday's Lineup

The Philadelphia Phillies will not have shortstop Jimmy Rollins in the lineup against the Washington Nationals on Tuesday. Rollins was placed on the paternal leave list by the Phillies. Rollins will likely be out on Wednesday as well. Ryan Zimmerman was a late scratch for the Nationals. He will be replaced by Chad Tracy.

Roy Halladay (4-3, 3.22 ERA) will be on the hill trying to end the Phillies three-game skid. He'll be up against Jordan Zimmermann (2-4, 2.58 ERA) of the Nationals. The Nationals won the first game of the three-game series, 2-1, on Monday.

The Phillies announced lineup for tonight's game is:

Juan Pierre LF
Placido Polanco 3B
Shane Victorino CF
Hunter Pence RF
Carlos Ruiz C
Hector Luna 1B
Freddy Galvis SS
Mike Fontenot 2B
Roy Halladay P

The Nationals will use:

Steve Lombardozzi LF
Bryce Harper RF
Chad Tracy 3B
Adam LaRoche 1B
Ian Desmond SS
Danny Espinosa 2B
Rick Ankiel CF
Jesus Flores C
Jordan Zimmermann P

For more on the Phillies, please check out our blog The Good Phight and SB Nation Philly for all the latest news and updates.

Phillies Vs. Nationals, Game 2: After Birth Of First Child, Jimmy Rollins Expected To Return To Lead-Off Spot

Jimmy Rollins is expected to return to the Philadelphia Phillies lineup Tuesday, as he witnessed his first child being born early Monday night. Rollins, 33, was a no-show in the Phils' 2-1 loss to the Washington Nationals on Monday because he was by the beside of his wife, Johari.

While witnessing the birth of his baby girl, Rollins, the Phillies lead-off hitter and shortstop, was replaced in the batting order by outfielder Juan Pierre. The swap, despite Rollins hitting just .247 at the plate, didn't result in an offensive output.

"If I could find somebody [else] to put there, I might," Manuel said. He laughed. "I can count. I can see. I hope I can," he added.

"He's a better hitter than a .220 hitter," Amaro said. "He's just had a slow start."

For more on the Phillies, please check out our blog The Good Phight and SB Nation Philly for all the latest news and updates.

Phillies Vs. Nationals, Game 2: Philly Turns To Roy Halladay To End Losing Streak

Usually when the Philadelphia Phillies find themselves in a tough spot, ace Roy Halladay is usually comes to the rescue. "Doc" Halladay will need to do it again Tuesday, when the Phillies host the Washington Nationals in Game 2 of a three-game set at Citizen Bank Park (7:05 p.m. ET on Comcast Sports Network).

Halladay (4-3, 3.22 ERA) will be called upon to end a four-game losing streak and get the Phils' (21-22) back to the .500 mark. To do that, Halladay will need to out-pitch Washington starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann (2-4, 2.48 ERA), and hope his offense, which scored a run in a 2-1 loss Monday, supports his effort.

For more on the Phillies, please check out our blog The Good Phight and SB Nation Philly for all the latest news and updates.

Nationals 2, Phillies 1: Philadelphia Loses 3rd Straight, Falls Under .500

The Philadelphia Phillies lost 2-1 to the Washington Nationals on Monday night in Game 1 of their three-game series. Kyle Kendrick pitched well despite being tagged with the loss. He gave up just two earned runs and five hits in seven innings on the mound. Gio Gonzalez struck out nine in six shutout innings for the Nats, and gave up just three hits.

Ian Desmond batted in both runs for the Nationals. He took Kendrick deep to center field in the second inning for his seventh home run of the season. The Nats went up 2-0 in the fourth off a Desmond single to score Bryce Harper.

Ty Wiggington scored John Mayberry Jr. on a sacrifice fly to right with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning off of Sean Burnett. Unfortunately, the Phillies couldn't complete the rally after pulling within one run, 2-1. Placido Polanco lined out to second base to end the game.

Shane Victorino made it on base in all three at-bats, hitting a single and a double with a walk. Polanco went 2-for-4 from the plate with a walk.

With the loss, the Phillies fall to 21-22 overall. Game 2 will begin at 7:05 p.m. ET on Tuesday.

For more on the Phillies, please check out our blog The Good Phight and SB Nation Philly for all the latest news and updates.

Phillies Vs. Nationals: Lineups Announced For Monday's Series Opener

The lineups for Monday's series opener between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Washington Nationals are out.

Kyle Kendrick (0-3, 5.96 ERA) will get the start for the Phillies and will be looking to pick up his first victory of the season. Mike Fontenot will be in the lineup at second base tonight while Freddy Galvis moves over to shortstop. Ty Wigginton is not in the starting lineup after going 0-4 yesterday against Boston and has been replaced by Placido Polanco at third base.

Here is the Phillies lineup for tonight's game at Citizens Bank Park:

Juan Pierre LF

Placido Polanco 3B

Shane Victorino CF

Hunter Pence RF

Carlos Ruiz C

John Mayberry 1B

Freddy Galvis SS

Mike Fontenot 2B

Kyle Kendrick P

The Nationals lineup will be:

Stephen Lombardozzi LF

Bryce Harper RF

Ryan Zimmerman 3B

Adam LaRoche 1B

Ian Desmond SS

Danny Espinosa 2B

Rick Ankiel CF

Jesus Flores C

Gio Gonzalez P

For more on the Phillies, please check out our blog The Good Phight and SB Nation Philly for all the latest news and updates.

Is Carlos Ruiz' Hot Start Sustainable?

Phillies Vs. Nationals: Game Time, TV Schedule And More

The Phillies and Nationals are set to kick off a three game set at Citizens Bank Park on Monday night.