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Flores powers Nationals past Phillies

Jul 26, 2007 - 10:32 PM PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- This time, Jesus Flores' clutch hit was preserved by the Washington Nationals' bullpen.

Flores hit a two-out, three-run home run in the eighth inning off reliever Mike Zagurski as Washington avoided a three-game series sweep with a 7-6 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday.

The loss was costly for the Phillies, who learned after the game that second baseman Chase Utley suffered a broken right hand after being hit by a pitch. Utley was placed on the 15-day disabled list after the game.

Flores also delivered a key pinch-hit, two-run double off Zagurski in the ninth inning of Wednesday's game that temporarily gave the Nationals a one-run lead, but the Phillies tied it and won it in dramatic fashion on Ryan Howard's two-run, walk-off home run in the 14th inning.

"The last two days, I felt like I'm playing every day," Flores said. "I just want to get comfortable every time I play and make good swings."

Washington had two on with two outs in the eighth when Flores hit Zagurski's first pitch deep into the left field seats for just his second home run of the season to give the Nationals a 7-5 lead.

"It was exciting," Flores said. "I came off the bench and hit the double (Wednesday) and today, I hit a three-run home run."

Zagurski's mistake made a loser of Jose Mesa (0-2), who allowed two unearned runs in two-thirds of an inning.

"Zagurski's a young guy with not much experience," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "He threw a change in the middle of the plate. Young guys make mistakes."

Flores' blast capped a five-run comeback for Washington, which trailed, 5-2, entering the seventh. Felipe Lopez brought the Nationals to within one with a two-out, two-run single in the seventh.

"Jesus has gotten some big hits in his limited time for us," Nationals manager Manny Acta said. "He has that kind of talent. We think he's going to be a front-line catcher in the big leagues in the future."

Jon Rauch (6-2) got the win in relief while Chad Cordero allowed a run in the ninth before notching his 20th save.

Howard hit another two-run homer for the Phillies and Pat Burrell also drove in two runs as Philadelphia had its season-high five-game winning streak snapped.

With the Phillies trailing, 2-1, in the bottom of the third, Utley singled with two outs. Howard drove a 3-2 pitch from Washington starter John Lannan over the center field fence for his 29th home run of the season and a 3-2 Phillies lead.

Lannan, who was making his major league debut, ran into trouble in the fifth. The lefthander hit Utley with an 0-2 pitch and then hit Howard with the first pitch. After hitting Howard, home plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt immediately ejected Lannan and Acta.

"(Wendelstedt's) explanation was that Howard hit a home run in his previous at-bat and he got hit in his next at-bat," Acta said. "I was very surprised. I don't think the kid is gonna come up here and start hitting people."

Utley immediately shook his right hand after being struck by the pitch, but stayed in the game.

"I definitely expect to come back, don't worry," Utley said.

Lannan went 4 1/3 innings and allowed five runs on six hits. He walked two and struck out one.

Chris Schroder replaced Lannan, but Aaron Rowand reached on an error to load the bases. Burrell followed with a two-run single to center that made it 5-2.

Washington got to Phillies starter Adam Eaton for two runs in the first inning on RBI singles by Dmitri Young and Austin Kearns.

Philadelphia responded in its half of the frame on a run-scoring single by Utley. The Phillies had a chance to score more runs, but Rowand hit into an inning-ending double play.