Phillies 5 - 4 Nationals
Final
  for this game

Halladay tries to continue mastery of Nationals

May 30, 2011 - 2:30 PM (Sports Network) - Whether it's at home or on the road, Phillies ace Roy Halladay has dominated the Washington Nationals.

Halladay is set to take the mound this afternoon in the opener of a three-game series at Nationals Park and is 10-1 with a 2.01 ERA in 14 games (13 starts) against the Montreal/Washington franchise. He is 5-0 against the Nationals since joining the Phillies last season and has beat them twice already in 2011. He went the distance in a 3-2 win on April 13, then tossed seven innings of two- run ball during a 7-3 victory on May 5.

The right-hander and reigning NL Cy Young Award winner previously pitched in Wednesday's 5-4 win over Cincinnati, but did not record a decision after he allowed three runs and a season-high 11 hits through seven innings. Halladay is 6-3 with a 2.35 ERA in 11 starts this season and is 2-2 in four road starts.

Philadelphia had a four-game winning streak stopped and its bid for a three- game sweep of the New York Mets dashed in Sunday's 9-5 loss in which starting pitcher Vance Worley was tagged for eight runs -- five earned -- and 12 hits in just three innings of work.

"I felt good. The last couple of bullpen (sessions) went well. Everything was working in the bullpen. Just got [on the mound] and it wasn't there," Worley said.

Raul Ibanez homered, while Ben Francisco and Dane Sardinha both recorded two hits and an RBI for the NL East-leading Phillies, who lost for the third time in their past 10 contests. The Phils are 2-1 on a nine-game road trip against the Mets, Nationals and Pirates.

Washington dropped two of three games to the San Diego Padres this past weekend and suffered a 5-4 loss in Sunday's series finale.

Former Phillie Jayson Werth led the offense with three hits and an RBI, as the Nationals dropped their seventh game in eight tries. Roger Bernadina, Laynce Nix and Michael Morse each drove in a run in defeat.

"We had our opportunities ... Double plays hurt us in this series," said Nationals manager Jim Riggleman.

Yunesky Maya started for Riggleman's club and did not record a decision after he gave up four runs in 4 2/3 frames. Drew Storen was dealt the loss for giving up the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth inning. Padres closer Heath Bell shut the Nats down in the bottom half for his 12th save.

In other news for the Nats, third baseman Jerry Hairston Jr. was suspended for one game for making contact with home-plate umpire Ed Hickox in the bottom of the seventh inning of a 2-1 victory over the Padres on Friday. He appealed his suspension on Sunday and went 1-for-3.

"I didn't push him or shove [Hickox] in any way, and the video clearly shows that," Hairston said. "I don't know what [MLB was] seeing. It's as clear as day in the video. I made a strong argument. I thought I was in the right.

"This is the big leagues. You are going to have your ups and downs as far as disagreements with umpires. I respect an umpire. Never have I pushed or shoved an umpire, and I never will."

Taking the mound for Washington today will be veteran Livan Hernandez. The big righty is 3-6 in 11 starts to go along with a 3.71 ERA and is winless in his last five trips to the mound -- all Washington losses. Hernandez did not record a decision in Tuesday's 7-6 loss at Milwaukee and allowed three runs in six innings.

Hernandez is 1-1 in two starts against Philadelphia this season and 12-11 with a 3.59 ERA in 29 career starts in this series.

The Phillies have won five of six meetings with the Nationals this season and are 17-7 in the previous 24 matchups between the two NL East foes.






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