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Nationals-Phillies Preview

Sep 18, 2010 - 3:19 AM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Washington (62-84) at Philadelphia (86-61), 7:05 p.m. EDT

After significant injuries slowed their production, the Philadelphia Phillies are healthy and finally doing what was expected of them - scoring runs in bunches and closing in on a fourth straight NL East title.

Coming off another strong offensive performance, the high-powered Phillies look to win six straight for the first time in nearly two months Saturday night against the Washington Nationals.

Philadelphia (87-61) reduced its magic number for clinching the division to 12 with a 9-1 victory over Washington on Friday. Jayson Werth and Carlos Ruiz each homered and drove in two runs for the two-time NL champions, who have a three-game lead over second-place Atlanta.

Philadelphia struggled at times last month when Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Shane Victorino were on the disabled list, but the trio has been back together for weeks and the team is surging.

The Phillies have plated at least nine runs in three of four games and are an NL-best 14-3 since Aug. 31. The offense has shown vast improvement, as the club has averaged 6.2 runs while batting .293 in the last 17 games.

Philadelphia had averaged 2.3 runs and hit .184 in the previous 12.

"We're doing the right things right at exactly the right time," manager Charlie Manuel said.

Howard, Utley and Victorino have keyed the turnaround for Philadelphia, which is trying to win six in a row for the first time since a season-high eight-game run from July 22-29. Howard has 18 RBIs since Aug. 31, Utley's driven in 17 runs and Victorino has scored 16 times.

"They're obviously a good lineup," said Washington's Jason Marquis, the losing pitcher Friday.

Hot-hitting Philadelphia could be in line for another big game against Jordan Zimmermann (0-1, 5.29 ERA), who is coming off his worst outing of the year. Another offensive outburst, though, may be what the Phillies need to extend their win streak with the inconsistent Kyle Kendrick (9-9, 4.85) taking the ball.

After posting a 7.84 ERA over four starts from Aug. 21-Sept. 5, Kendrick had a decent outing Saturday, allowing two runs in five innings of a 4-3 loss to New York.

The right-hander could have a tough time building on that start, as he's 0-1 with a 12.71 ERA in three games against the Nationals this year.

One Washington hitter that has regularly frustrated Kendrick is Ryan Zimmerman, who is 8 for 16 with a homer and five doubles lifetime against him.

Zimmerman had four of the Nationals' eight hits Friday, and is 12 for 24 in his last six games.

Washington (62-85) has lost seven of nine overall and is 1-4 versus Philadelphia since August.

Zimmermann will make his fifth start of the year after allowing five runs and five hits, including two homers by Mike Stanton, in a career-low three innings of a 6-5 loss to Florida on Sunday.

The right-hander gave up five runs in five innings and didn't get a decision in his only outing against the Phillies on May 17, 2009. Philadelphia won 8-6.