Phillies beat Nats at their own game, close and extras....

[Porter]

Philadelphia 5, Washington 4, 12 innings

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Ryan Howard hit a tying two-run homer in the eighth inning, and pinch-hitter Ramon Martinez drove in the tiebreaking run in the 12th to lift the Philadelphia Phillies to a 5-4 win over the Washington Nationals on Sunday.

David Bell hit a one-out single to center off Sun-Woo Kim (1-2) in the 12th and went to third on Todd Pratt's single. Jason Michaels flew out and Jimmy Rollins was intentionally walked to load the bases.

Martinez, who had only nine at-bats for the Phillies since he was acquired on June 8 from Detroit, chopped a grounder into left to end the game that lasted 4 hours, 1 minute.

That made a winner of Rheal Cormier (3-2), who gave up two hits in two innings.

Kim allowed four hits in 2 2-3 innings.

The Phillies won their first series since they swept a three-game set from Milwaukee on June 10-12. They also won consecutive games for the first time since June 16-17.

The Nationals lost for the fifth time in seven games, but still enter the All-Star break 52-36 and in first place in the NL East.

Washington had its chances against Philadelphia's bullpen in extra innings, but the Nationals stranded two runners in both the 10th and 12th innings.

Huge win for the Philles today for they are now only 7.5 games back. The bullpen allowed 1 ER and 6 H in 6 innings of work. It was key in the victory.

[The Philly Fanatic]

It was nice to beat the Nats and for Ryan Howard to flash some of his hyped power. That Nats are cooling off as well.... the Phillies have no chance but I see the Braves rising up soon.