Washington Nationals Game 153 Review: Nats drop 4th straight, fall to Phils

Bryce Harper, hitless in his last four games, was 0 for 4 with three strikeouts.

Rookie Aaron Altherr had four hits, including an inside-the-park grand slam and a solo homer, and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Washington Nationals 8-2 Friday night in what might have been Jordan Zimmermann’s home farewell.

Altherr benefited from a rather poor choice by Nationals center fielder Michael A. Taylor to dive for the ball, but it still counts. Darin Ruf and Cody Asche also homered for the Phillies, who tied a season high with four homers in the win. It was the 14th inside-the-park grand slam in Phillies history and first since Ted Kazanski in 1956. “It’s still a bad play once I miss it, so, it’s a tough play”.

“I’m sure I have over 47 years, ” he said.

After the Phillies took the series opener, leaving the Nationals one loss or one more New York Mets’ win from elimination from postseason contention, both Williams and Zimmermann were asked for their thoughts on how what could be the right-hander’s final start in D.C.as a National ended. I was like ‘Oh man. Might have a chance here, ‘ ” Altherr said.

“I don’t know. It was a good day, I guess”, Altherr said with a smile.

On the other side, the Phillies are just 8-20 in their last 28 trips to Washington and 1-6 in their last seven games overall versus the Nats. Zimmermann will be a free agent after this season, and seems likely to depart.

Werth (homer, single, two RBIs) snapped an 0-for-15 skid.

Zimmermann did actually receive an ovation on his way from the bullpen to the dugout before the start even began, and it was something he acknowledged he heard and appreciated.

The inside-the-park grand slam was the first in the majors since Randy Winn did it for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays against the New York Yankees on October 3, 1999. It was the Phillies’ first inside-the-park homer since July 31, 2012, when Jimmy Rollins hit one. Eickhoff has tossed at least six innings in nine of his last 10 starts going back to his time in Triple A and in six of his seven big-league starts. Washington RHP Stephen Strasburg (10-7, 3.81) will face Phillies RHP Aaron Nola (6-2, 3.84) on Saturday….