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Quick Reaction: Phillies 5, Nationals 3

The Phillies held on to even the series with several key two-out hits, and another solid performance from Jonathan Pettibone.

The most talked-about athlete in Philadelphia.
The most talked-about athlete in Philadelphia.
Patrick McDermott

Domonic Brown already had the team lead with eight HRs coming into the game, and he extended that with a shot that started the game's scoring in the 2nd. It was immediately followed by another home run from Erik Kratz.

The Nationals managed one run each in the 3rd and 4th to tie it, and then tied it again in the 5th after the Jonathan Pettibone and Jimmy Rollins had given the Phils the lead with back-to-back two-out doubles in the top of the inning.

Delmon Young and Domonic Brown finally built a two-run lead they would hold, with more two-out heroics in the 8th.

Brown, who was in a three-way time for the team lead at 25 RBIs with Howard and Utley coming in, took over the lead in that category as well with his two tonight. Howard, meanwhile, wore the golden sombrero by striking out in each of his four at bats, raising his K% to 28.8%. What's kind of amazing is that that rate is not even close to leading the majors, or even the NL. Based on players' rates before Saturday's game, Howard's K% moved up to 16th highest in the majors, and remained 8th in the NL.

The Phillies fought off the Nats on Saturday, and gave Cole Hamels a chance to win the series, reach .500, and pull even with Washington in the standings. He will be facing Stephen Strasburg, who has won only two games despite a 2.66 ERA.