Nationals 6, Phillies 1: Ryan Zimmerman was 3-for-5 with a home run, Wilson Ramos homered and drove in three runs and Ross Ohlendorf pitched five solid innings in emergency duty as host Washington extended its season-long winning streak to seven games.

Scheduled starter Stephen Strasburg was scratched hours before the game due to right forearm tightness, but Ohlendorf (4-0) stepped in and yielded only a first-inning run to help the Nationals pull within 4 1/2 games of Cincinnati in the race for the second wild card in the National League.

Zimmerman singled and scored on an Ian Desmond infield hit in the bottom of the first to forge a 1-1 tie and Ramos gave the Nationals the lead with a solo shot the next inning. Zimmerman made it 3-1 with his 24th homer of the season to lead off the third, and singled and scored on another Desmond base hit in the fifth.

Kyle Kendrick (10-13) was charged with six runs and eight hits in 4 1/3 innings for Philadelphia. Carlos Ruiz had an RBI single in the first for the Phillies' lone run.

Ohlendorf gave up three straight hits to begin the fifth but left unscathed after leadoff hitter Freddy Galvis was out trying to stretch a single into a double and Philadelphia stranded two runners in scoring position. The Nationals made the wasted opportunity hurt even more by scoring three runs in the bottom half – the last two on an infield hit by Ramos.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Strasburg strained the forearm in a recent bullpen session while trying a new pitch. The Nationals said they do not think the injury is serious and Strasburg is expected to start Thursday against Miami. ... Washington CF Denard Span singled in the sixth to extend his hitting streak to 24 games. ... With his run-scoring single in the first, Ruiz had reached base seven straight times.