Phillies 2 - 1 Nationals
Final
  for this game

Hernandez, Byrd help Phils edge Nats

Aug 2, 2014 - 5:34 AM Washington, DC (SportsNetwork.com) - Marlon Byrd's solo home run led the Philadelphia Phillies in a 2-1 win over the Washington Nationals in the second of a four-game set.

Cody Asche had two hits and an RBI, while Roberto Hernandez (6-8) tossed eight innings of one-run, five-hit ball for the Phillies, who have won three of their last four.

Ian Desmond drove in the lone run of the game for the Nationals, who have dropped four of five. Doug Fister (10-3) allowed two runs on six hits over seven innings to lose for the first time in seven starts.

"I think he pitched really well," Nationals manager Matt Williams said of Fister. "We couldn't muster (anything) tonight."

With two outs in the top of the second, Grady Sizemore lofted a fly ball to left that Bryce Harper was unable to make a play on and Sizemore wound up at second with a double. Following a walk by Carlos Ruiz, Asche punched a single to right to give the Phillies a 1-0 lead.

Washington answered in the second as Adam LaRoche led off with a single that was misplayed by Asche and he wound up at third. Desmond then singled him home and took third on a hit-and-run single by Harper. Asdrubal Cabrera, making his Washington debut, lined into a double play, though, as his liner was caught by Ryan Howard and Harper was caught off the bag. After Wilson Ramos was intentionally walked, Fister lined out to end the inning.

The Phils had a chance to go up in the fifth as Ben Revere singled to right with Asche at second. Jayson Werth fielded the ball and threw a one-hopper home in time to get Asche.

Byrd, though, gave Philadelphia the lead in the sixth with a two-out, solo home run to right-center, his 21st of the season.

"It's one of those things where I only took one good swing all night in four at-bats and it worked," said Byrd.

Washington didn't get a runner past second base after the second inning, but threatened in the ninth against Jonathan Papelbon.

With one out, LaRoche singled and Desmond followed suit with a basehit. Papelbon, though, struck out Harper and did the same to Cabrera for his 26th save of the season.

Game Notes

Fister had went 5-0 in his previous six starts entering Friday ... Hernandez is 3-0 in his last four starts ... The Phillies placed Cliff Lee on the 15-day disabled list on Friday. He exited Thursday's game in the third inning and was making just his third start after spending two months on the disabled list with a left elbow strain. The team recalled pitcher Cesar Jimenez from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to take Lee's spot.






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