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Philadelphia Phillies
08/01/2012 | News release
Rollins homers twice to lead Phillies past Nats
distributed by noodls on 08/01/2012 22:57
WASHINGTON -- The Phillies are 2-0 since the Trade Deadline.
Jimmy Rollins homered twice and Vance Worley pitched a solid seven innings in a 3-2 win against first-place Washington on Wednesday night at Nationals Park.
Rollins hit solo homers in the third and fifth innings, bringing his home run total for the series to three. Newcomer Nate Schierholtz went back-to-back with the Phillies' veteran shortstop in the fifth for what would turn out to be the game-winning blast.
Worley settled down after the first couple innings and put together a good outing. The right-hander allowed two unearned runs on six hits.
The Phillies (47-57) will go for the three-game sweep of the Nationals on Thursday night.
It didn't take long for Schierholtz, acquired Tuesday in the Hunter Pence deal with the Giants, to make an impact. After joining the team earlier in the day, Schierholtz went 2-for-5 with the crucial home run. He also made a nice sliding catch in right field in the eighth inning.
The Phillies' other corner outfielder, Domonic Brown, contributed in his first Major League start of 2012. Brown, once regarded as the organization's top prospect, spent parts of each of the last two seasons with the Phillies but started 2012 with Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He was promoted Tuesday when Pence was traded to the Giants and Shane Victorino went to the Dodgers.
With the Nationals threatening to add to an early 2-0 lead, Brown showed off his strong left arm. He nailed Nats starting pitcher Edwin Jackson at home plate with a perfect throw to catcher Erik Kratz to end the second inning.
Two Philadelphia fielding miscues helped extend a two-run first inning for the Nationals. An error by third baseman Kevin Frandsen loaded the bases for Adam LaRoche, who singled in the game's first run. Then, Danny Espinosa hit a ground ball to second basemen Chase Utley that looked like a double-play ball. However, Utley uncharacteristically dropped it and was only able to get the out at second base while a run scored.
Right-hander Josh Lindblom, part of the package the Phillies received for Victorino, also made his Philadelphia debut. He entered with one out in the eighth inning and gave up a single to Ryan Zimmerman. He then struck out Michael Morse on a 93-mph fastball before he was lifted for left-hander Jeremy Horst. Kratz caught Zimmerman stealing to end a possible threat.
Jonathan Papelbon closed out the game in the ninth for his 23rd save in 26 opportunities.
Jake Kaplan is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
