WASHINGTON -- After rallying for three runs in the ninth inning to win the first game of a doubleheader Sunday, the Phillies could not sustain the momentum. They lost the nightcap, 6-5, to the Washington Nationals on another bullpen meltdown.
Michael A. Taylor hit a two-run homer against Pat Neshek in the bottom of the eighth inning to put the Nats ahead after the Phillies had rallied to take a 5-4 lead on Freddy Galvis' two-run triple in the top of the inning.
The Phillies played the Nationals 12 times in the first 35 games of the season and went 5-7. The two teams do not play again until September.
The Phillies won the opener, 4-3 (see game story).
Starting pitching report
Vince Velasquez went five innings and gave up three runs, two of which were unearned. He threw 100 pitches. A 30-pitch first inning got his pitch count up early. Velasquez's ERA is 5.63 in seven starts.
Washington's Max Scherzer allowed nine hits and three runs over six innings. He walked none and struck out eight.
MLB
Scherzer took a 100-mph line drive from the bat of Michael Saunders off his left leg in the fourth inning. He dropped to the ground twice in pain but stayed in the game. In fact, he struck out the side on nine pitches the next inning.
Bullpen report
Luis Garcia entered a 3-3 game in the bottom of the sixth inning. He allowed a walk, a stolen base and a two-out RBI double to pinch-hitter Brian Goodwin as the Nats broke the tie.
Neshek could not protect the Phillies' lead in the bottom of the eighth and took the loss. He allowed a hit to Anthony Rendon before Taylor's homer. The two runs are the first runs Neshek has allowed this season.
The Phillies' bullpen has given up 24 homers, the most in the majors.
Matt Albers got the final three outs and the save for the Nats.
At the plate
Brock Stassi, Andrew Knapp and Andres Blanco all had RBI singles for the Phillies. Galvis' two-run triple in the top of the eighth gave the Phils the lead.
Bryce Harper finished his torrid series with a three-hit night.
In the field
Trea Turner, the Nationals' brilliant shortstop, made a sensational play to save a run in the sixth. With runners on first and second and two outs in a tie game, he made a diving stop on Daniel Nava's pinch-hit single in shallow center field. He wheeled and threw to third as Stassi was rounding the bag. Third baseman Rendon then threw a strike to the plate to nail Stassi.
Rehab road
Aaron Nola will make his second and most likely final minor league rehab start for Triple A Lehigh Valley at Rochester on Monday night.
Up next
The Phillies are off Monday. They open a three-game interleague series on the road against the Texas Rangers on Tuesday night. Cole Hamels is on the disabled list so he won't pitch in the series. Here are the pitching matchups:
Tuesday night -- RHP Jerad Eickhoff (0-3, 4.67) vs. RHP Yu Darvish (3-2, 2.96)
Wednesday night -- RHP Zach Eflin (0-0, 2.81) vs. RHP Andrew Cashner (0-3, 2.43)
Thursday afternoon -- RHP Nick Pivetta (0-2, 6.14) vs. LHP Martin Perez (1-5, 3.89)