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Flores, Nationals slow down Phillies' playoff push

Sep 23, 2007 - 9:59 PM By Rich Dubroff PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- The final game at RFK was painful in more reason than one for rookie Jesus Flores.

Flores was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the sixth inning to force home the go-ahead run in the Washington Nationals' 5-3 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday in the final baseball game played at RFK Stadium.

The loss hurt Philadelphia (85-71), which began Sunday 1 1/2 games behind the New York Mets (87-68) in the National League East. It fell a full game back as the Mets pulled out a 7-6 win in 11 innings at the Florida Marlins.

It also trailed San Diego (85-69) by one-half game in the wild card. The Padres host the Colorado Rockies later Sunday.

The Phillies had won nine of their previous 10 games, including the first three games of their final road series.

"We had an 8-2 road trip. It would have been better if we had a 9-1," Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel said. "That's pretty good, but at the same time, today's game was a big one. We have six left. We definitely have to have a big homestand."

Philadelphia have Monday off, its first off day in 18 days, and begin a three-game series with the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday before three more with the Nationals next weekend.

"If we win all six, we'll win 91 games," Manuel said. "If we win five out of six, we'll win 90. Ninety might get us something."

All-Star second baseman Chase Utley, whose ninth-inning double extended his hitting streak to 18 games, agrees with Manuel.

"We have to try and win as many games as possible," he said. "Every game is important."

Philadelphia led 2-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth before D'Angelo Jimenez greeted reliever Antonio Alfonseca (5-2) by lining a ball to right field. Jayson Werth bobbled the ball, and Jimenez wound up on third before later scoring the tying run on single by Austin Kearns.

It was the third hit of the game for Kearns, putting runners at first and second with one out. Tony Batista walked to load the bases, and after Geoff Geary relieved Alfonseca, the lefthander hit Flores with a pitch to score Ronnie Belliard with the go-ahead run.

The rookie catcher, who was hit on his left elbow, left the game after the inning.

Washington added two runs off Kane Davis in the eighth after back-to-back singles by Ryan Zimmerman and Kearns. Zimmerman scored on a single by Robert Fick and Kearns reached home on a sacrifice fly by Brian Schneider.

This week, the Nationals took two of three from the Mets and lost three of four to the Phillies. They will try to affect the division race this week, playing three in New York beginning Monday before heading to Philadelphia.

"Hopefully, we can ruin someone else's season this week," Fick said.

Luis Ayala (2-2), the fourth Nationals pitcher, was credited with the win. He gave up one run in the sixth on an RBI single by Carlos Ruiz.

Arnie Munoz and Jon Rauch combined to work the seventh and eighth innings before closer Chad Cordero worked around a run and two hits in the ninth. Cordero struck out three, including final hitter Werth, to notch his 36th save.

With the win, the Nationals closed RFK Stadium with a 122-121 record in their three seasons.

"The most important thing was leaving RFK with a winning record," manager Manny Acta said. "The last game here was special."

Washington scored in the first off Philadelphia starter Cole Hamels. Jimenez led off with a single and Belliard walked. Ryan Zimmerman hit into a double play, and Jimenez took third before scoring on single by Kearns.

Philadelphia tied the score in the fifth when Hamels walked with one out off Nationals rookie starter Joel Hanrahan. After Jimmy Rollins popped out, Chase Utley walked, and Pat Burrell singled to left to tie the score at 1-1.

The Phillies went ahead in the sixth, with Greg Dobbs drawing a leadoff walk. After Jayson Werth struck out, Flores tried to pick Dobbs off at first, but his throw went to right field where Kearns bobbled it, allowing Dobbs to reach third on the series of errors. Directly after, Ruiz singled to right for the 2-1 lead.

Hamels was pulled after five innings and 74 pitches. It was his second start since missing a month with a sprained left elbow.

"It's a little difficult to say when they don't say what my pitch count is ahead of time," Hamels said. "I definitely had 10 or 15 more pitches in me."

The Phillies' Ryan Howard had a dubious moment in the contest, tying the major league record for most strikeouts in a season when Hanrahan struck him out in the fourth inning. It was his 195th this season, pulling him even with Cincinnati's Adam Dunn, who set it in 2004.

The Phillies' Ryan Howard had a dubious moment in the contest, tying the major league record for most strikeouts in a season when Hanrahan struck him out in the fourth inning. It was his 195th this season, pulling him even with Cincinnati's Adam Dunn, who set it in 2004.