PHILADELPHIA — Jayson Werth hit two home runs and drove in five runs and Yunel Escobar had the game-winning RBI in the 11th inning to lift the Washington Nationals to an 8-7 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday night.
Pinch-hitter Danny Espinosa led off the 11th with a walk, moved to second on Cameron Rupp’s passed ball and went to third on Anthony Rendon’s single. Espinosa then scored on Escobar’s high chopper to second base off Luis Garcia (3-5).
The groundout made a winner of Jonathan Papelbon (4-2), who blew his first save of the season by allowing Freddy Galvis’ solo home run in the 10th.
Rendon hit a home run and had four hits and Bryce Harper also hit a home run for the Nationals, who remained 9 1/2 games behind the first-place Mets in the National League East. It was Washington’s second consecutive win after snapping a five-game losing streak on Sunday.
Ryan Howard and Cody Asche also hit home runs for Philadelphia.
The Nationals went ahead, 7-6, in the 10th when Werth launched a 3-1 pitch deep into the seats in left off Dalier Hinojosa with one out for his 12th career multi-home run game.
But Philadelphia tied it in the bottom half off Papelbon, who converted all 17 of his chances with the Phillies and each of his six with the Nationals after being traded to Washington on July 28.
Prior to the game, Papelbon made critical comments about his former teammates, telling reporters that “was one of the few that wanted to actually win, and I was one of the few that competed and posted up every day.”
Doug Fister pitched a scoreless 11th for the first save of his career.
Starter Jordan Zimmermann allowed six runs on seven hits with eight strikeouts and one walk for Washington.
Phillies rookie Aaron Nola gave up six runs on nine hits in five innings while setting career-highs with eight strikeouts and three home runs allowed.
Werth’s grand slam to left in the fifth gave Washington a 6-2 lead, but the Phillies answered with four runs on four hits in the sixth, highlighted by Asche’s three-run shot to deep right-center field.
Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg (8-7, 4.30) will face Phillies right-hander David Buchanan (2-8, 9.11) in the second game of the three-game set on Tuesday night.
In two career starts against Washington, Buchanan has allowed 10 runs on 16 hits in 11 innings.
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