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Harper leads the way as Nats double up Phils

Sep 27, 2012 - 3:55 AM Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Bryce Harper finished with a two-run home run and drove in three, as the Washington Nationals recorded an 8-4 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies in the middle test of a three-game series.

Jayson Werth added a late key two-run single and Kurt Suzuki added a two-run homer for the Nationals, who reduced their magic number to win the NL East to four by shaking off a loss from Tuesday's opener.

John Lannan (4-0) worked 5 1/3 innings for the win, allowing only five hits and two runs with three strikeouts.

"It felt good to get runs in the first inning. In the past, things didn't go my way here," Lannan admitted.

Jimmy Rollins went deep while Domonic Brown and B.J. Rosenberg drove in a run each for the Phillies, who have dropped three of four. Kevin Frandsen added two hits and scored twice in the loss.

Kyle Kendrick (10-12) recorded just six outs for Philadelphia, charged in defeat with five hits and five runs -- four earned -- over two-plus frames.

Werth provided valuable insurance in the ninth, bringing home two runners with two down and two in scoring position with a single up the middle against Justin De Fratus for a 7-4 Washington lead.

"Sometimes, he gets too amped up here. That was a big hit for us," said Nats manager Davey Johnson of Werth, who starred in Philly from 2007-10 but bolted for America's capital as a free agent.

Harper followed with an RBI triple off Antonio Bastardo and the Nats walked away with a comfortable decision.

Washington dented Kendrick in the first, as Werth worked a leadoff walk and Harper reached the seats in left center for a 2-0 game.

Ian Desmond's leadoff shot off Kendrick in the second was followed by a Chase Utley error allowing Steve Lombardozzi to reach first and a two-run blast from Suzuki that put the visitors ahead 5-0.

"On Harper's home run, it wasn't a bad pitch. He put a good swing on it. The home run to Suzuki was a pretty good pitch, too," said Kendrick. "But most of the night, I was behind in the count, up in the zone. That's what happens."

The Phils got on the board in the home third. Frandsen led off with a double and scored when Suzuki threw wild to third on Rosenberg's sacrifice. No further damage ensued despite a bases-loaded, one-out situation.

Frandsen tripled with two down in the fourth and Rosenberg's first career hit plated him to make it 5-2. Rollins then added a solo shot to right with two outs in the seventh which cut the deficit to two.

In the eighth, Utley led off with a double, moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored two batters later on Domonic Brown's deep fly to right that pulled the Phillies within 5-4.

Game Notes

Washington's victory ended a four-game losing skid to Philadelphia, but the Phillies still lead the season series, 8-6 ... Harper's blast was his 20th of the year ... Suzuki hit his first long ball since Sept. 10 ... Rosenberg tossed three full innings of hitless relief for Kendrick, striking out three and walking one ... Desmond upped his career average to .450 (9-for-20) against Kendrick.