Andres Blanco’s three hits included a two-run homer and he scored the go-ahead run on Maikel Franco’s seventh-inning double, helping the Philadelphia Phillies edge Bryce Harper and the Washington Nationals 4-3 Tuesday night.
Jeanmar Gomez, Philadelphia’s fourth pitcher, got Harper to ground out to third with a man on first in the ninth to end the game and earn his fifth save.
Before the game, Phillies manager Pete Mackanin spoke about “a theory” for how to pitch to reigning MVP Harper, who came in leading the NL in homers and RBIs.
Philadelphia walked Harper three times, but he delivered a run-scoring single off Vincent Velasquez (3-1) in the fifth.