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.
The Nationals took a 2-0 lead on the Phillies after Michael Morse's fifth homer in seven games, but here in the fourth inning, that lead is gone. Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez (who else?) hit back-to-back homers off Livan Hernandez, tying the game at two. And after the Nationals got to 2010 Cy Young winner Roy Halladay early, you have to wonder if they've gotten everything they'll get.
Halladay hasn't allowed more than two runs in an inning - or a start, for that matter - against the Nationals since coming to Philadelphia last year. The Nationals made him throw 20 pitches in the first inning, and a total of 50 in the first three innings, but he's repeatedly shown an ability to shut them down after one hiccup. And Howard just homered to right center off Hernandez in the fourth inning.
There's a big crowd on hand today, and I'd say the majority of it is Phillies fans, judging by the responses during introductions (boos for the Nationals, and Jayson Werth in particular) and during the game (the "Jaaaay-son, Jaaaay-son" chants have been a steady presence in right field). It'll be interesting to see what happens if Teddy does win the Presidents' Race today.
Update: It's now 3-2 Phillies - Carlos Ruiz, Domonic Brown and John Mayberry Jr. all followed with base hits to put the Phillies ahead in the fourth inning. It could have been worse, too, except Jimmy Rollins' shot to deep right hung up in the wind and was caught by Werth at the warning track to end the inning.
Oh, and Teddy lost. Pretty boring Presidents' Race after all the speculation about him winning. Did anybody come to the game just for that? I'd love to know.
