Werth Slams Nationals, Phillies win 6-1

Joe Blanton continued the recent string of dominant starting pitching and Jayson Werth put the game away with a grand slam as the Phillies defeated the Nationals Wednesday night, 6-1.

Chase Utley put the Phillies on the scoreboard first when he took advantage of the Nationals trying to throw out Ryan Howard, who was attempting to steal second base with two outs in the bottom of the first. Howard was safe and Utley, who was at third base already, bolted home for the second steal of home this season for the Phillies. Werth had the more dramatic steal earlier this season against the Dodgers.

Blanton would keep the Nationals off the scoreboard for six full innings, and allowed just five hits. He struck out seven batters and walked four, but once again he received little run support. He left the game after his six innings with just a 1-0 lead. That would soon change.

In the bottom of the sixth inning Raul Ibanez put the Phillies up 2-0 when he scored as a result of a throwing error to third base on fielder's choice. Then in the bottom of the seventh inning Werth put the game away.

With two outs in the seenth inning Nationals reliever Tyler Clippard took starter Livan Hernandez's spot on the mound and appeared to be on his way to a 1-2-3 inning when he plunked Utley. Clippard was replaced by Sean Burnett, who Utley picked up a steal of second base on promptly. With Utley a second Burnett intentionally walked Ryan Howard. What he did not want to do was walk Ibanez, which he did.

The Nationals then called on reliever Jason Bergmann, who Werth had a career 0-for-8 against. The funny thing about baseball is that stats really do not mean anything, especially when you are talking about the Nationals. Werth connected on a pitch and launched it to the stands in left center field and gave the Phillies a commanding 6-0. From there it was just a question of whether or not the Phillies would pick up their third straight shut-out.

Chan Ho Park and Ryan Madson pitched shut out innings in the seventh and eighth, but Tyler Walker allowed one run in the ninth, more as a result of defensive indifference than anything else. The alarming news was focused on Park, who left the field at the end of the seventh inning after what appeared to be a hamstring injury.

For the Phillies the victory clinches a series victory against the Nationals in the final set of the season between the two teams. In the series finale Thursday night Cole Hamels will try to continue the string of terrific starting pitching and pick up his tenth win of the season.

Magic Number: 11
The Florida Marlins beat the St. Louis Cardinals in an afternoon game so the Phillies had to handle their own business if they wanted to lower the magic number. With the victory the magic number decreased to 11.