PHILADELPHIA - Nationals lefty Gio Gonzalez was one strike away from getting out of a two-on, one-out jam in the bottom of the second. But he couldn't finish off Phillies pitcher Jake Arrieta, who lined a two-run single to left to give the home team a 2-0 lead.
Not to worry, Gonzalez's teammates made sure to pick the southpaw up.
The Nationals took full advantage of Arrieta's control issues in the top of the third, sending eight men to the plate and coming away with a 4-2 lead on a pair of two-run home runs.
After fanning Gonzalez, Arrieta allowed Adam Eaton's triple to right-center and Trea Turner followed by lining a 1-2 pitch into the stands in left to tie the game. Arrieta walked Anthony Rendon and went to 3-0 on Juan Soto, who went opposite field on his next pitch for a 4-2 lead.
Soto's 16th homer of the season tied Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. for fourth place on the all-time single-season register for home runs by a teenager.
Update: Rendon led off the fifth by crushing a 1-1 pitch from Luis Garcia deep into the left field stands. HIs 18th homer of the season upped the lead to 5-2.
Arrieta departed after three innings, matching his shortest start of the year. He allowed four runs on four hits, walked three and struck out three.
Update II: Gonzalez couldn't get the final out of the fifth inning before coughing up the lead. He walked pinch-hitter Asdrúbal Cabrera to lead off the inning and then gave up a single to Roman Quinn. Rhys Hoskins and César Hernández struck out looking before a walk to Wilson Ramos loaded the bases. Carlos Santana then hit an 0-1 pitch over the fence in center for a 6-5 Phillies lead.
Update III: The Nats tied the game at 6-6 in the sixth. Wilmer Difo greeted reliever Victor Arano with a single to right, scampered to second on a passed ball and beat the throw home on pinch-hitter Andrew Stevenson's single to right. Stevenson stole second but was stranded there when Eaton and Turner struck out against reliever Héctor Neris.
Gonzalez went five innings, allowing six runs on six hits, walking three and striking out six.
Update IV: José Bautista's RBI single off Jimmy Cordero in the seventh scored Hernández for a 7-6 Phillies lead.
Update V: The Phillies added an insurance run in the eighth when Hoskins doubled home Quinn, who tripled with two down. It's 8-6 Phillies.
Update VI: Final score: Phillies 8, Nationals 6.