The Phillies scored early and often -- that's an understatement -- in rolling to a 17-3 win over the Washington Nationals in front of a giddy crowd of 37,241 Saturday night at Citizens Bank Park.
The Phils scored 12 runs in the first inning -- the most in franchise history in that inning. They sent 16 men to the plate in that frame and had nine hits during the uprising, which lasted 37 minutes. (The onslaught is detailed here.)
Aaron Nola looked good and was a winner in his first regular-season start since July 28 when he went to the sidelines with an elbow injury.
The Phillies are 2-3.
Washington is 3-2.
Starting pitching report
Nola gave up seven hits and three runs over six innings. He threw 89 pitches. He walked two and struck out seven. His fastball reached 94 mph and he had good movement on his two-seamer.
MLB
All in all, it was a confidence-builder for the right-hander.
Washington brought up veteran Jeremy Guthrie from the minors for the start and he did not fare well (another understatement) on his 38th birthday. He got just two outs in the first inning and was tagged for 10 runs.
Bullpen report
Pat Neshek and Edubray Ramos closed it out for the Phils.
Former Phillie Joe Blanton pitched three scoreless innings for the Nats. His bullpen mates Enny Romero and Oliver Perez combined to give up six runs.
At the plate
Howie Kendrick had three hits and four RBIs for the Phillies. Tommy Joseph entered the game 0 for 13 on the young season. He had a pair of RBI singles and a sacrifice fly. Michael Saunders had a big game with a single, double, triple and two RBIs. Kendrick and Cesar Hernandez also tripled. Andres Blanco and Cameron Rupp homered. Kendrick has opened the season 8 for 18.
In all, the Phils had 15 hits.
The 17 runs were their most since July 6, 2009, when they scored 22 against Cincinnati.
Daniel Murphy had three hits for the Nats. Jayson Werth drove in a pair of runs.
In the field
Third baseman Maikel Franco turned a terrific 5-3 double play to get Nola out of a bases-loaded jam in the first inning. Centerfielder Odubel Herrera and Blanco, a late-game replacement at shortstop, also made standout defensive plays.
Health check
Washington leadoff man Trea Turner left the game in the first inning with an apparent leg injury.
Up next
The Phillies and Nationals close out the series Sunday afternoon. Jeremy Hellickson (1-0, 1.80) makes his second start of the season. Stephen Strasburg (1-0, 2.57) pitches for Washington.