WASHINGTON -- Right-hander Stephen Strasburg pitched seven solid innings and helped the Nationals blank the Phillies, 4-0, at Nationals Park on Sunday afternoon.The Nationals split the four-game series against Philadelphia and are three games ahead of the Braves in the National League East. The Braves are playing the Padres at Petco Park.Strasburg started the game by retiring nine of the first 10 hitters he faced. 
Overall, he allowed three hits and struck out 10. It was Strasburg's fifth 10-strikeout game this season. The Phillies had runners in scoring position three times, but went 0-for-4 in those situations.Phillies left-hander Cole Hamels was just as good as Strasburg as he allowed an unearned run on four hits in seven innings. The one run scored in the third. Jose Lobaton reached on an error by third baseman Cody Asche. After Strasburg moved Lobaton over to second on a sacrifice, Denard Span singled to center field, scoring Lobaton. It marked the 29th straight game in which Span reached base via a hit or a walk.In the eighth, Span scored on a double by Anthony Rendon off Phillies right-hander Ken Giles. Jayson Werth followed and doubled off the right-center-field wall, scoring Rendon. Werth later scored on a Jake Diekman wild pitch.After Strasburg left, Tyler Clippard and Rafael Soriano held the Phillies scoreless the rest of the way.Bill Ladson / MLB.com
Overall, he allowed three hits and struck out 10. It was Strasburg's fifth 10-strikeout game this season. The Phillies had runners in scoring position three times, but went 0-for-4 in those situations.Phillies left-hander Cole Hamels was just as good as Strasburg as he allowed an unearned run on four hits in seven innings. The one run scored in the third. Jose Lobaton reached on an error by third baseman Cody Asche. After Strasburg moved Lobaton over to second on a sacrifice, Denard Span singled to center field, scoring Lobaton. It marked the 29th straight game in which Span reached base via a hit or a walk.In the eighth, Span scored on a double by Anthony Rendon off Phillies right-hander Ken Giles. Jayson Werth followed and doubled off the right-center-field wall, scoring Rendon. Werth later scored on a Jake Diekman wild pitch.After Strasburg left, Tyler Clippard and Rafael Soriano held the Phillies scoreless the rest of the way.Bill Ladson / MLB.com
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