Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper took a few steps toward the fence and then stopped to watch the ball as Carlos Santana of the Phillies crushed a two-run homer over his head in the sixth inning Friday night.
That has been a familiar scene recently for the Nationals pitching staff, which gave up three homers and eight walks to Philadelphia in a 12-2 loss in a game played before 35,630 fans and amidst a light rain.
Washington has now allowed 17 homers in the last eight games and has given up 84 homers this season. Washington entered Friday with the second-best ERA in the league at 3.