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Strasburg pitches Nationals past Phillies

Aug 4, 2014 - 1:15 AM Washington, DC (SportsNetwork.com) - Stephen Strasburg tossed seven shutout innings and the Washington Nationals defeated the Philadelphia Phillies, 4-0, in the finale of a four-game set on Sunday.

Strasburg (8-9) allowed just three hits with one walk, while fanning 10 batters to improve to 4-1 for his career against the Phillies.

"He has proven why he is a really good pitcher," Nationals manager Matt Williams said about Strasburg. "The last two outings have been really good."

Denard Span finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored, while Anthony Rendon and Jayson Werth each drove in a run for the Nationals, who won the final two games of the series.

Cody Asche went 2-for-3 with a double for Philadelphia, which has not scored a run in its last 21 innings.

Cole Hamels (6-6) was tagged with the loss for the first time in over a month despite pitching seven solid innings. He surrendered one unearned run on four hits and a walk while striking out six batters.

"It's a waste of a solid start," said Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg. "We weren't able to push a run across to give Cole a little support."

Hamels entered the game with wins in his last four decisions with his last loss coming on July 2 against Miami.

The Nationals opened the scoring in the third. Jose Lobaton reached first on Asche's fielding error at third base, moved to second on Strasburg's sacrifice bunt and scored on Span's RBI single to center field.

Washington had a chance to add to its lead in the sixth. Span hit a leadoff single to shortstop and stole two bases. Adam LaRoche walked to place runners at the corners with two outs, but Ian Desmond lined out to right to end the frame.

Span worked a walk off reliever Ken Giles to start the eighth and scored on Rendon's RBI double that eluded a diving Grady Sizemore in left field. Werth followed with a run-scoring double off the wall in right-center, making it a 3-0 game.

Giles intentionally walked LaRoche and struck out Desmond. Both runners moved up on a passed ball by catcher Wil Nieves to place runners at second and third and Werth came home on Jake Diekman's wild pitch to account for the final score.

Game Notes

Scott Hairston got the start over Bryce Harper in left field for Washington ... Span has now reached base in 29 straight games. It is the longest such streak in the majors this season ... Span also extended his hitting streak to seven straight games ... It was Strasburg's 16th 10-plus strikeout game of his career and fifth this season ... Hamels has pitched into the seventh inning in each of his last six starts ... Washington leads the season series, 8-5.