PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Bryce Harper hit a run-scoring single that stopped an 0-for-18 skid in his return from the injured list, Andrew McCutchen hit a three-run homer, and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Washington Nationals 5-2 on Saturday.
Harper was in right field and hit third after missing 11 games with a left wrist injury. He was hit by a pitch in the sixth, taking a Joe Ross slider off the top of his left foot, but remained in the game.
Harper was hurt on April 28 when a 97 mph fastball from St. Louis’ Genesis Cabrera hit him on the face and then the left wrist. He returned to the lineup after three days off but struggled.
The six-time All-Star and former NL MVP had just one homer and three RBIs in 15 games in May while slashing just .211/.318/.316 with 26 strikeouts in 57 at-bats. The Phillies placed him on the 10-day injured list on May 25 after an 0-for-16 stretch that included 10 strikeouts.
Washington’s Josh Harrison was hit by pitches twice, by starter Spencer Howard and by Ranger Suárez (1-0), who won by pitching three hitless innings.
Rhys Hoskins had an RBI for Philadelphia, which won for just the second time in the last six games.
Josh Bell went deep for the Nationals.
Connor Brogdon pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his first save since 2019 at Double-A.
Ross (2-6) gave up four runs — all unearned — and three hits in six innings.
With Washington ahead 1-0 in the fourth, Bell booted Jean Segura’s one-out grounder for an error. After Harper, Hoskins blooped an RBI single for a 12-game hitting streak and McCutchen hit an 84 mph slider to left for his 10th homer.
Bell homered against José Alvarado leading off the eighth. The Nationals put two on with no outs, but Alex Avila lined out, Victor Robles flied and, pinch-hitter Ryan Zimmerman struck out.
Harper singled off Sam Clay in the eighth.
Washington scored in the third when Juan Soto’s grounder that went through Segura’s legs at second base and allowed Trea Turner to score from third,
Howard allowed an unearned run and one hit in 2 1/3 innings.
Soto was booed one day after hitting the go-ahead homer in the sixth inning of Friday’s 2-1 Nationals victory over Philadelphia. Soto stared down Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler after the hit.
Travis Jankowski also was booed by Phillies fans when he replaced McCutchen in the field in the seventh as part of a double-switch. Jankowski made a baserunning mistake in the ninth Friday when he was tagged out between second and third for the first out of the inning.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Nationals; C Yan Gomes (hamstring) was sidelined for the third straight game and is day to day. … RHP Erick Fedde (COVID-19 injured list) allowed two runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings on Saturday in a rehab start at High-A Wilmington. Fedde threw 48 of 72 pitches for strikes.
Phillies: SS Didi Gregorius (right elbow) took batting practice prior. He has been out since May 12.
UP NEXT
RHP Vince Velasquez (2-1, 4.08) starts for Philadelphia in the series finale on Sunday.
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