Nationals Beat Phillies 4-3 In 10 Innings
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Tommy Milone is looking to carry his minor league success into the majors.
Milone tossed six scoreless innings and pinch-hitter Ryan Zimmerman delivered an RBI single in the 10th to lift the Washington Nationals to a 4-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday.
"I was moving the ball in and out," Milone said. "It was actually pretty easy. Some days, you go in and out when you're trying to throw strikes. Today, it seemed a lot easier."
Milone, the organization's 2010 minor league pitcher of the year, picked a perfect time to set career highs in innings and pitches (93). The left-hander allowed four hits, struck out two and walked none in the opener of a day-night doubleheader.
"He's got tremendous poise and mixes his pitches well," Nationals manager Davey Johnson said. "It puts him in contention to be a starter on this ballclub. We need pitchers like him. His poise is off the charts."
Pinch-hitter Michael Morse sparked Washington's winning rally with a two-out walk in the 10th. He moved up on a passed ball and scored when Zimmerman singled to center against Michael Stutes (6-2).
Tom Gorzelanny (4-6) worked the ninth for the victory. Drew Storen finished for his 39th save, getting Ross Gload to ground out with runners on first and second to end the game.
The Phillies, who have clinched their fifth straight NL East title, used a lineup featuring only two regulars - Shane Victorino in center and Hunter Pence in right. Both were pulled by the seventh inning.
The Nationals have won eight of 11.
Roger Bernadina hit a three-run homer off reliever Michael Schwimer in the seventh for a 3-0 lead.
"I was looking for a pitch and he left one out over the plate," said Bernadina, who tied his career high with three RBIs.
The Phillies tied it in the bottom half when Raul Ibanez hit a three-run drive to right on an 0-2 pitch from Tyler Clippard. It was Ibanez's second career pinch-hit homer, the last one coming in 2001 for Seattle.
Kyle Kendrick bolstered his case for a spot on the Phillies' postseason roster with his second consecutive strong outing. He pitched six scoreless innings.
"He's been good, very good," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "He finds a way to get it done."
Kendrick has given up three or fewer earned runs in each of his last nine starts.
"I feel pretty good right now," Kendrick said. "I have good command of my pitches."
NOTES: Phillies SS Wilson Valdez returned to the lineup after missing the previous 10 games with a left hamstring strain. ... The crowd of 44,263 marked the 201st consecutive regular-season sellout at Citizens Bank Park. ... Washington 2B Danny Espinosa doubled in the fourth, giving him an eight-game hitting streak. ... Nationals reliever Ryan Mattheus, who missed the last 22 games with a right shoulder strain, was activated from the 15-day disabled list.
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