Pence launches a pair as Phils salvage a win in D.C.

PBR - Hunter Pence hit a pair of two-run home runs and Placido Polanco chipped in three hits to lead the Phillies past the Nationals on Sunday night in Washington, 9-3.

Cole Hamels (4-1, 2.45)  tossed eight innings, surrendering five hits while striking out eight.

Trailing 1-0, Shane Victorino opened the fourth inning with a walk and later scored on Pence's first blast, a two-run shot to center. Later in the frame, Polanco lofted an RBI-single to center scoring Laynce Nix to bump the Phillies' lead to 3-1.

The offense erupted again in the ninth, scoring six runs with Pence's second two-run shot of the game highlighting the inning.

For the Nationals, Bryce Harper finished 2-for-3 and recorded his first major league stolen base - a swipe of home in the first inning on a pickoff play, giving Washington an early 1-0 lead. Prior to tonight, Harper had been 0-for-7 in the series.

Jordan Zimmerman tossed six innings for the Nationals, allowing seven hits and three runs. He walked four and struck out two.  Ryan Perry was charged with surrendering all six of the Phillies' runs in the ninth.

The Phillies will open a three-game set with the Mets at Citizens Bank Park on Monday with Roy Halladay opposing Jon Niese.

Halladay struggled in his last start, surrendering 12 hits and eight earned runs in six innings in a loss in Atlanta.