PHILADELPHIA, July 11 (UPI) -- A pinch-hit double from Kevin Fransen put Philadelphia in front in the seventh inning Thursday and the Phillies went on to defeat Washington 3-1.
Philadelphia won three out of four in the series and has captured six of its last eight contests.
The teams battled to a 1-1 tie through six innings, but Darin Ruf opened the Philadelphia seventh with a double off Washington starter Jordan Zimmermann (12-4).
John McDonald came on to run for Ruf, took third on a sacrifice by Carlos Ruiz and scored when Fransen doubled to right.
The Phillies added a run in the eighth when Chase Utley raced home on a fielder's choice grounder off the bat of Michael Young.
Kyle Kendrick (8-6) gave up a run on five hits over seven innings to collect the win. Kendrick had given up a combined 10 runs and 22 hits in his previous two starts.
Jonathan Papelbon struck out one in a perfect ninth for his 20th save.
