MASNsports.com is your online home for the latest Orioles and Nationals news, features, and commentary. And now, you can connect with MASN on every digital level. From web and social media to our new mobile alert service, MASN has got all the bases covered.
Get the latest breaking news direct to your phone with our mobile texting service.
FINAL UPDATE: The Nats dropped a 4-1 decision to the Phillies as Cole Hamels went a full nine innings, allowing just one run. Back with more in a bit.
PHILADELPHIA - Give the Nationals this: In the 36 games they've played at Citizens Bank Park since 2007 (27 of which have been losses), they've let close games slip out of control plenty of times before. They're not doing that tonight.
But they're also not hitting Cole Hamels. They have just three hits off the left-hander in six innings, and the Phillies continue to mount rallies against Livan Hernandez. This isn't the same lineup the team has had in recent years - it includes Pete Orr, not Jayson Werth - but history would suggest one of these Phillies rallies is going to blow the game open.
Philadelphia has stranded seven runners in the last three innings, getting all of their six hits against Livan Hernandez in that time. They lead 2-0 heading into the bottom of the sixth in a game they could be winning by much more.
That could come back to bite the Phillies with their shaky bullpen, but they're not having much trouble stringing hits together against Hernandez right now, and Hamels has thrown only 78 pitches in six innings. The Phillies have some activity in their bullpen, but the Nationals at least need to put together a sustained rally to knock Hamels out of the game.
UPDATE AT 8:47 PM: Well, now it's a 2-1 game. Michael Morse just ripped a homer to right off Hamels, giving a little fist pump as the line drive left the yard. It was a vintage Citizens Bank Park homer - you might even call it Werthian - and it pulled the Nationals within a run. If they can bounce Hamels in the eighth inning, they've got a chance to steal a game the Phillies seem like they should have well in hand.
