Phils hold down Nationals, win 4-1

Alec Asher shut out Washington for six innings to earn his first MLB win in a 4-1 Philadelphia triumph Thursday night.

Asher gave up two hits and walked one in the effort. Nationals starter A.J. Cole (1-2, 4.56 ERA, 1.01 WHIP) took the loss, giving up four runs on five hits in five innings, striking out eight.

Daniel Murphy (.345/.387/.595, 25 HR, 101 RBI) was 1-for-3 with a double and a sacrifice fly RBI.

The Nats (82-58), who have an eight-game lead on the New York Mets in the NL East, did get some qualified good news on Thursday, when it was revealed that ace Stephen Strasburg had suffered only a strained flexor mass in his right elbow.

There is no set timetable for a possible return for Strasburg (15-4, 3.60 ERA, 1.10 WHIP), which is the qualified part of the good news, which is that he has not been ruled out for the season.