Washington Nationals vs Philadelphia Phillies Box Score on Sep 25, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Sep 25, 2017

PHILADELPHIA -- With a week remaining in the baseball season, the Washington Nationals are showing they are ready for the postseason.

Behind a Michael Taylor home run and a strong all-around pitching effort led by A.J. Cole, the Nationals took care of the Phillies 3-1 on Monday night at Citizens Bank Park.

Washington (95-61) has now won six of its last eight games. The Phillies (62-95) dropped their fourth in the last five games.

Cole (3-5) outdueled Aaron Nola (12-11) to earn the win.

Taylor's home run, his 17th of the year, came on a 3-1 pitch from Nola, who left a fastball over the middle of the plate. It scored Jayson Werth, who was on first with a single.

Werth gave the Nationals an insurance run with a run-scoring fielder's choice in the eighth inning to extend the Washington lead to 3-1.

That was more than enough to earn a win for Cole, who was making his eighth start of 2017. The righty was removed in the sixth with two outs after throwing 102 pitches. He struck out five and walked a pair. His only blemish was an Odubel Herrera home run in the fourth inning, one of six hits Cole allowed on the night.

Herrera's home run broke an 0-for-17 slump by the center fielder.

The Phillies had little offense otherwise.

Philadelphia moved a runner into scoring position just twice against Cole and couldn't muster a hit against the Washington bullpen.

Sean Doolittle recorded his 24th save (20th in the National League) with a 1-2-3 ninth inning. He struck out Ty Kelly looking to end the game.

Nola allowed just the two runs on Taylor's homer in six innings of work. He struck out nine and walked two while allowing five hits.

The Nationals, with six games left, are three wins from tying a franchise record for most wins in a season. The Phillies, meanwhile, are looking to avoid their first 100-loss season since 1961.

NOTES: Washington OF Bryce Harper (left knee) was expected to be activated for the game Monday, but was held out with flu symptoms. Harper, once an MVP candidate who owns a .326 batting average with 29 home runs and 87 RBIs, hasn't played since Aug. 12... The Phillies have now lost 23 of their last 30 games against Washington... Normal Washington starters Daniel Murphy and Anthony Rendon were given the day off... The Nationals send LHP Gio Gonzalez (15-7, 2.68 ERA) to the mound Tuesday to face Phillies RHP Jake Thompson (2-2, 4.14).