Vidro’s Homer Keeps Nationals on Top

The Washington Nationals moved down the map geographically and up in the standings.

Jose Vidro led off the 10th inning with a homer, leading the Nationals to their second straight win, 5-4, over the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday at Philadelphia.

Vidro had three runs batted in and Brad Wilkerson continued his torrid hitting, going four for five a day after hitting for his second career cycle.

“To come back and win, that’s a pretty good feeling because it shows we matured a lot,” Vidro said.

Washington completed its first series by winning two of three.

Placido Polanco had a go-ahead RBI single in the seventh for the Phillies, but reliever Tim Worrell blew another one-run lead in the eighth.

Vidro hit a 1-and-2 pitch off Rheal Cormier (0-1) to start the 10th. Chad Cordero (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings for the win.

Cincinnati 6, New York 1 -- Aaron Harang gave up one single in 6 1/3 innings, and D’Angelo Jimenez had a pinch two-run double off former Dodger Kazuhisa Ishii as the Reds completed a three-game sweep of the Mets at Cincinnati.

The Reds improved to 3-0 for the first time since 1990, when they won their first nine and swept Oakland in the World Series.

The Mets hadn’t lost their first three games since 1964.

Ishii gave up only two costly hits over 6 2/3 innings. Wily Mo Pena hit a solo homer in the second, and Jimenez’s double sparked a three-run rally in the seventh.

Atlanta 4, Florida 2 -- Tim Hudson spent much of the night pitching out of trouble and lasted only five innings, but that was long enough to earn the win for the Braves at Miami.

A throwing error by Gold Glove second baseman Luis Castillo led to two Atlanta runs. Brave backup catcher Eddie Perez had two RBIs against A.J. Burnett (0-1).

Hudson gave up six hits and four walks but only one run.

San Diego 1, Pittsburgh 0 -- Rick White walked Xavier Nady with the bases loaded in the 12th inning to score Geoff Blum and give the Padres the victory at San Diego.