Washington (53-85) has put together the second-longest winning streak since the team moved to the District in 2005 – it won 10 games in a row in June of that season – and has scored 65 runs in its last 10 games.

“We’re just playing together as a team right now,” said third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who was 1-for-3 with two walks and capped a four-run fourth inning by crushing a two-run home run to center. “When people make mistakes or have a rough time we pick each other up. It’s fun to play when you’re doing that kind of stuff.”

The Nats have also begun to resemble last year’s feisty group, which made life miserable for contenders in the National League East in September. The Phillies (75-63) fell two games back of the first-place New York Mets (77-61) with the loss.

“Everybody around here becomes a little bit smarter with seven runs and 12 hits,” said Nats manager Manny Acta.

Starting pitcher Tim Redding (10-8, 4.55 ERA), who matched a career-high with his 10th win of the season, took a no-hitter into the sixth inning for the Nats – although it wasn’t the cleanest in history. He escaped a second-and-third jam with one out in the first after hitting a batter and walking another. But Redding then retired 14 of the next 16 Phillies. He is now 3-1 with a 3.41 ERA in five starts against Philadelphia in 2008. 

“No rhyme or reason for that,” said Redding, who was battered for 10 hits and seven runs on July 30 against the Phillies, but rebounded with six innings of one-run ball against them on Aug. 21. “I continue to try and execute pitches that I’m having success with and try to improve on balls that they’re hitting. But I don’t want to say it was a fluke, either.”

Redding added that he and catcher Jesus Flores worked on setting better targets and even changed some signs to avoid tipping pitches against a Philadelphia offense that ranks 10th in the majors (665 runs).

The Phillies did chop a 6-0 Nats lead in half with a three-run sixth off Redding and relievers Charlie Manning and Marco Estrada. The trio combined to allow two hits, including an RBI double by Ryan Howard, three walks and a hit batter – all with two out – before Estrada retired the side. But the rest of the bullpen, which as a unit has allowed four earned runs in its last 23 2/3 innings, gave up just a solo homer to Jimmy Rollins in the ninth.

“The bullpen came in and held the lead. Regardless of a walk or two those guys have been doing the job all year, but especially the last 10, 11 games,” said Redding, who left with the bases loaded in the sixth and was charged with three runs on two hits and three walks. “They’ve been getting out of some big situations.”

It didn’t hurt that they were already ahead by six runs when Redding finally tired. Lastings Milledge delivered a two-run single in the bottom of the first. Willie Harris had an RBI triple in the fourth and Cristian Guzman followed with an RBI double. That brought up Zimmerman, who crushed a 1-1 pitch over the 402-mark in center that banged off the side of the green batter’s eye.

Guzman (2-for-5, RBI, two runs) is batting .447 in his last 10 games with four doubles, a triple, a homer and eight RBI. Zimmerman has had at least one hit in his last seven games, batting .444 with two doubles, two homers and six RBI. He has also walked five times since Friday.

Tensions rose slightly in the bottom of the third. Redding had already hit both Chase Utley and Shane Victorino with pitches. So when Philadelphia starter Kyle Kendrick (11-8, 5.06 ERA) twice buzzed Zimmerman high and tight in the third inning, home plate umpire Bruce Dreckman issued an official warning to both dugouts.

“But I didn’t think any of that was on purpose. It wasn’t our intention to hit anybody,” Acta said. “We don’t want to hit anybody with that lineup that they have. People can interpret it anyway they want and the umpires do what they feel like. … But I don’t think you want to get into a beanball [battle] with a team like us that has nothing to lose.”

Nats Notes


» First baseman Dmitri Young began a rehabilitation assignment at short-season A Vermont on Monday. Young, who was the National League comeback player of the year in 2007 with the Nats after batting .320 and earning an All-Star berth, has been out since the All-Star break dealing with diabetes. He spent last week working out in Viera, Fla., to get back into game shape.

» The Nats moved outfielder Wily Mo Pena to the 60-day disabled list, clearing another spot on the 40-man roster. Pena had surgery on July 22 to repair a torn labrum. He batted .205 with just two home runs and 10 RBI in 64 games this season.