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PHILADELPHIA - Raul Ibanez was in an 0-for-34 slump before the start of last night's game, but that wasn't going to stop him from resuming his regular role as a Nationals killer. He doubled in two of his last three at-bats last night, and in the fifth inning here, he provided the blast to put the Phillies on top.
Ibanez blasted a solo homer to lead off the inning against Jason Marquis, and the Phillies hit the right-hander for three runs in the inning. The left fielder is now hitting .349 against the Nationals since the start of 2009, and the homer was his 13th against Washington since coming to Philadelphia.
The blast ended a 15-inning scoreless streak for Marquis, and the Nationals have just three hits against Vance Worley. It's entirely possible the Phillies have all the runs they need to win the game and the series.
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UPDATE AT 8:45 P.M.: It's now 3-1 Phillies; Adam LaRoche snapped an 0-for-19 skid with a double off the left field wall (after a couple close pitches went his way and prevented his third strikeout). The shot scored Danny Espinosa, who was hit by a pitch to start the inning.
