Jeremy Hellickson was throwing freely and effectively. The Phillies righthander needed just 79 pitches to get through seven innings Monday night, with the Phillies leading, 2-1.
But his night was finished and as it turns out, so was his team.
Hector Neris, who entered the game having been unscored upon in his previous 92/3 innings, lasted only two-thirds of an inning. Neris allowed three runs as the Washington Nationals beat the Phillies, 4-3, before 21,993 at Citizens Bank Park.
It was the fourth consecutive loss for the Phillies (26-25) and their sixth in the last seven games.