Major League Baseball

Victorino leads Phillies hit parade in win over Nats

Published May. 30, 2009 4:25 a.m. ET

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The Philadelphia Phillies must love facing Washington pitchers.

Shane Victorino had four hits and the Phillies tied a season high with 16 hits in their 5-4 victory over the Nationals on Friday night. It was the second straight win for Philadelphia, 8-2 against the Nationals this season.

The Phillies have reached double-digit hits in seven of their eight victories over Washington, while averaging 12.75 hits in those wins. Overall, the Phils have averaged 11.4 hits in 10 games against the Nationals this season.

"Sixteen hits is a good indication we will score a lot of runs if we keep hitting the ball like that," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "Our offense, when all is said and done, we're going to score some runs."

Washington has lost four straight to drop to 13-34.

Jimmy Rollins had two hits and two RBIs, Raul Ibanez, Jayson Werth, Pedro Feliz and Carlos Ruiz also each had two hits, and every Philadelphia position starter had at least one. The Phillies stranded 13 runners while going 3-for-16 with runners in scoring position.

J.A. Happ (3-0), making his second start of the season and seventh of his career, went 5 1-3 innings and allowed three runs on three hits while matching his career high with five strikeouts. All three of the left-hander's wins - two in relief - this season are against the Nationals.

"He was very aggressive and I thought he did a good job," Manuel said. "I liked the way he threw. He pitched aggressive and moved the hitters."

Happ, who began the season in the bullpen, said his confidence as a starter is growing.

"Yeah, definitely," he said. "I felt pretty good and was able to mix it up more. My goal is to go a little deeper than I did today."

Brad Lidge pitched a scoreless ninth for his 10th save.

Ross Detwiler (0-1), making his third career start, gave up 10 hits and five runs in four innings. In his previous two starts, he allowed four runs (three earned) and five hits in 11 innings while holding batters to a .125 average. The Phillies had no such trouble against the rookie left-hander, especially in the third inning when they scored three runs on four hits.

"The bottom line pretty much speaks for itself, I got the ball up and they hit the ball hard," Detwiler said. "The great pitchers make adjustments and today I didn't make the necessary adjustments."

"He left the ball up in the zone," Nationals manager Manny Acta said. "That is a good hitting ball club and they hit him around a bit."

Overall, though, Acta was pleased with the rookie's outing.

"It's still encouraging," Acta said. "The one thing we were worried about was him throwing strikes. He threw strikes and we're happy with his start."

Detwiler threw 68 pitches, 46 for strikes.

Victorino led off with a single and went to third on Utley's double before Ibanez drove both home with a single. After the second out, Feliz tripled home Ibanez. Philadelphia scored the winning run in the fourth inning when Utley's groundout plated Rollins, who led off with his second double of the game. The run gave Philadelphia 5-1 lead, but Washington came back with three runs in the sixth.

Josh Bard and Anderson Hernandez drove in runs in the inning for the Nationals.

"We battled back and made it interesting," Acta said.

Josh Willingham led off the second with a homer for Washington.

Notes

Nationals catcher Jesus Flores had a setback while rehabilitating his bruised right shoulder and will see Dr. James Andrews on Monday. ... The Nationals purchased the contract of right-handed reliever Mike MacDougal from Triple-A Syracuse, where he had two saves with a 3.24 ERA in 8 1-3 innings. MacDougal pitched Friday, allowing a hit and striking out one in a third of an inning. ... Phillies right-hander Brett Myers will have hip surgery, and could miss the rest of the season. General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said Myers has a torn labrum and no date has been set for surgery. Myers was examined by Dr. Bryan Kelly in New York on Friday and Kelly recommended the surgery. The Phillies placed Myers on the 15-day DL after Friday's game and called up left-handed reliever Sergio Escalona from Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

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