WASHINGTON -- This one really stings.
The Phillies blew a three-run lead in the final two innings Sunday afternoon in a 5-4 loss to the Nationals at Nationals Park. Nationals ace Max Scherzer struck out 15 batters through 6 1/3 innings, but a high pitch count convinced the Nats to pull him from the game. The Phillies pounced and scored three runs in the seventh inning to take the lead.
The Phillies carried a 4-3 lead into the ninth, but Hector Neris allowed a single to Matt Weiters and made a wild throw on a pickoff attempt to send pinch-runner Rafel Bautista to third.