Bryce Harper, Ryan Zimmerman and Juan Soto homered to lead the visiting Washington Nationals past the Philadelphia Phillies 5-1 Wednesday night at Citizens Bank Park.

The Nationals swept the three-game series and won their fifth consecutive game overall.

Washington starter Stephen Strasburg (8-7) tossed seven strong innings, allowing one run on five hits and no walks while striking out nine. Strasburg threw 101 pitches, 64 for strikes, and lowered his ERA to 3.87.

Zimmerman and Anthony Rendon each had two hits for the Nationals.

J.P. Crawford homered and had a career-high three hits for the skidding Phillies, who dropped their fifth in a row and fell 7 1/2 games behind the Atlanta Braves in the National League East. Washington is just a half-game behind Philadelphia.

Phillies starter Aaron Nola (16-5) gave up six hits and four runs in five innings. He walked one and fanned five.

Nola recorded his 200th strikeout of the season, becoming the first Phillies pitcher to accomplish the feat since Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels in 2013. However, Nola has allowed seven home runs in his past three starts after giving up just eight in his first 27 starts.

Harper slammed a two-run home run in the first inning, his 33rd of the season, for a quick 2-0 Washington lead. It was Harper's 14th career home run at Citizens Bank Park.

Later in the first, Zimmerman hit an RBI single to center for a 3-0 advantage.

Zimmerman lofted a solo homer into the bushes in center for a 4-0 lead in the fourth. The ball just eluded leaping Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera.

Crawford's solo homer in the fifth sliced the Nationals' lead to 4-1. Crawford started at shortstop for the first time since June 18.

Soto responded with a solo homer to right off Phillies reliever Austin Davis for a 5-1 Washington advantage in the sixth. It was Soto's third home run in the three-game series and his 19th of the season.

Washington reliever Wander Suero retired the Phillies in order to finish the ninth. Crawford struck out looking to end the game.

--Field Level Media