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MLB: Washington 5, Philadelphia 1

Washington Nationals Ryan Zimmerman connects for a homerun in the fourth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. on September 24, 2012. UPI/Kevin Dietsch
Washington Nationals Ryan Zimmerman connects for a homerun in the fourth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. on September 24, 2012. UPI/Kevin Dietsch | License Photo

WASHINGTON, Oct. 3 (UPI) -- Ryan Zimmerman, Tyler Moore and Michael Morris hit home runs Wednesday in pacing the Washington Nationals to a 5-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies.

Washington, 98-64, is assured of at least a tie for the best record in the major leagues. The Nationals next play Sunday, against the winner of Friday's wild-card game between St. Louis and Atlanta, in the first game of a National League Division Series.

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Philadelphia, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2006, ends the year 81-81.

Zimmerman hit his 25th home run of the season in the fourth inning and Morris and Moore followed with back-to-back doubles for a 2-1 Washington lead.

Morris added his 10th home run of the year in the sixth.

Zimmerman opened the eighth with a single and, after Bryce Harper was put in to run, Morris delivered an opposite-field shot for his 18th home run of 2012.

Edwin Jackson (10-11), who allowed nine runs in a 1 1/3-inning outing his last start, gave up one run and six hits over 6 2/3 innings Wednesday. He struck out six and walked one.

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The Nationals rapped Phillies starter Cliff Lee (6-9) for eight hits and three runs in six innings.

Carlos Ruiz doubled and scored on a Darin Ruf hit a sacrifice fly in the fourth to account for the Philadelphia run.

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