Daylen Lile hit a pinch-hit, three-run homer in the seventh inning to lift the host Washington Nationals to a 6-3 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in the first of a two-game series Tuesday night.
Harry Ford and Andrew Pinckney led off the seventh with singles against Cristopher Sanchez. After Nasim Nunez bunted the runners over, Jonathan Bowlan replaced Sanchez and Lile, pinch-hitting for Dylan Crews, smacked a first-pitch change-up to center for his 21st homer of the season.
Andres Chaparro had a solo homer and a double for the Nationals (71-81), who have won four straight after losing seven in a row.
Richard Lovelady (3-4) pitched one inning for the win, and Erik Tolman worked the ninth for his third save.
Kyle Schwarber homered and Luis Arraez had two doubles and a walk for the Phillies (83-68), who have lost four of five. Philadelphia began the day holding the second NL wild-card spot.
Sanchez (17-6) allowed five runs on eight hits over 6 1/3 innings. He struck out five and walked two.
Washington starter Jackson Kent gave up three runs on four hits over five innings, fanning four and walking three.
Schwarber led off the game with a walk and took second on a wild pitch. He went to third on a groundout and scored when Alec Bohm singled with two outs.
The Nationals took the lead with a two-out rally in the first. Brady House doubled and Yohandy Morales doubled him home. After Jacob Young was hit by a pitch, Jorbit Vivas lined a single to left, scoring Morales.
Trea Turner singled with one out in the third, went to second on a groundout and scored the tying run when Arraez doubled.
Schwarber led off the fifth with his major league-leading 45th home run of the season, a shot to right, and the Phillies led 3-2.
Chaparro tied it with a shot to center with two outs in the bottom half.
