Cristopher Sanchez pitched a two-hitter for his second career complete game to help the Philadelphia Phillies beat the visiting Washington Nationals 5-1 on Saturday for their fourth straight victory.
Sanchez (9-8) struck out four with no walks for Philadelphia, which has won eight of the nine meetings against Washington this season, including six straight.
Alex Call homered for the Nationals, who have lost four straight.
Sanchez retired his first nine batters faced in order before Call began the fourth inning with his second homer, a 371-foot shot to right-center field.
Philadelphia pulled even against MacKenzie Gore (7-11) in the fourth inning. Alec Bohm drew a two-out walk and scored easily on Nick Castellanos’ double to center.
Bohm extended his on-base streak to a career-high 34 consecutive games, which is the longest active streak in the majors.
The Phillies sent nine batters to the plate and scored four runs on six hits in the sixth inning.
Trea Turner began the rally with a leadoff double and scored on Bohm’s one-out single. Castellanos followed with a single and moved to second on J.T. Realmuto’s RBI single.
After Weston Wilson grounded into a forceout, Edmundo Sosa chased Gore with a run-scoring single to right field. Joe La Sorsa entered and was greeted by Johan Rojas’ RBI single to center.
Sanchez retired 12 batters in a row before Andres Chaparro singled to lead off the eighth inning. Sanchez quickly erased the threat when Ildemaro Vargas flied out and Riley Adams grounded into a double play.
Sanchez, who recorded his first career complete game in a 2-0 win over the Miami Marlins on June 28, threw 71 of his 99 pitches against the Nationals for strikes.
Call reached base on Turner’s throwing error with two outs in the ninth inning before CJ Abrams flied out to end the game.
Castellanos and Wilson had two hits apiece for the Phillies, who improved to 42-22 at home and will aim for a four-game series sweep on Sunday.
–Field Level Media