Washington starter John Lannan was the victim this time. He had allowed just three hits and two walks and recorded 12 ground-ball outs entering the seventh, shackling the defending world champs. But in a span of four batters, Jayson Werth, Raul Ibanez and Carlos Ruiz all homered. Just like that the Phillies turned a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 lead.

It was an exasperating end for Lannan, who endured a similar fate in his last start at San Diego when four shutout innings were erased by a five-run fifth. His ERA — once among the best in the National League — now has ballooned to 4.14 after allowing four runs or more in five of his last six starts.

Ibanez had earlier homered in the fifth inning — also a solo shot. The Philadelphia left fielder now is an absurd 25-for-54 on the season against the Nats (.463 average) with eight home runs and 20 RBI in 13 games.

Pedro Martinez made another strong start for the Phillies. The 37-year-old — signed to a contract in mid-July — pitched into the seventh inning with seven hits and three runs allowed. His last pitch was a high fly ball by Willie Harris that tucked into the first row of seats in right-center. It was Harris’ second homer in as many days and his third since Aug. 22.

The bullpen needed to help — and it did. Brett Myers continued his comeback from hip surgery with 1 1/3 innings of one-hit, no-run relief. Struggling closer Brad Lidge again was awful in the ninth. The major-league leader in blown saves with 10, Lidge gave up a single, a walk and hit a batter to load the bases with one out. That brought up Ryan Zimmerman, who had just hit his fifth career walk-off homer on Sunday against Florida. But reliever Ryan Madson came on to strike out Zimmerman and get Adam Dunn to ground out to second to escape the jam and secure the win.

bmcnally@washingtonexaminer.com