WASHINGTON -- Alec Ashers first tour with the Philadelphia Phillies went very badly.This time around hes off to a great start.Ryan Howard hit a three-run homer, Asher pitched six innings of two-hit ball coming off a suspension, and the Phillies defeated the Washington Nationals 4-1 on Thursday night.Asher, acquired from the Rangers in the trade for Cole Hamels, ended last season in the Phillies starting rotation and went 0-6 with a 9.31 ERA in seven starts.Its a testament to his makeup, manager Pete Mackanin said of Ashers improvement. Last year he looked like he was a little nervous most of the time and got rocked around. It was good to see him confident.The right-hander pitched to contact, walking one batter without a strikeout, and throwing 75 pitches in earning his first major league victory.I felt like I wasnt myself at the end of last year and I kind of let the moment get to me, Asher said. I just said Im going to go out there and have fun. Im going to pitch to my strengths.Asher (1-0) was suspended for 80 games while on the disabled list with Triple-A Lehigh Valley in June after a positive drug test. He made four minor league appearances beginning in late August and his suspension ended Sept. 4.Everythings in the past now, Asher said. Its unfortunate what happened. Theres nothing I can do but come up here and pitch now. Happy to be back and looking to stay.Peter Bourjos homered for the Phillies, who snapped a nine-game losing streak against the Nationals.Trailing 4-0, Washington loaded bases with one out in the eighth inning. Daniel Murphy hit a sacrifice fly to the warning track and Bryce Harper struck out.Jeanmar Gomez pitched the ninth for his 36th save.The Nationals received hopeful news regarding Stephen Strasburg, who left his start in the third inning Wednesday night after feeling a pinch in the back of his elbow.Strasburg has a strained flexor mass in his elbow and the Nationals dont know when he will pitch again, but manager Dusty Baker and director of athletic training Paul Lessard voiced optimism after an MRI revealed no ligament damage.A.J. Cole (1-2), one of the pitchers the Nationals may rely on in Strasburgs absence, allowed four runs and five hits in five innings. He struck out eight batters without a walk.Ive always believed in myself as being a big league pitcher, Cole said, and Ive got to be able to show that, and thats what Im doing right now.Bourjos led off the third with a blast off the left field foul pole and, with two outs, Howard lifted a fly ball that carried over the fence in center. It was his 21st homer and career No. 378, tying him with former Nationals manager Matt Williams for 72nd on the all-time list.He just made a couple of pitches that he wished he had back tonight, Baker said of Cole. He seems kind of unfazed by the challenges of the big leagues.THREES COMPANYAsher joins Jerad Eickhoff and Jake Thompson -- who were also part of the Hamels trade -- in the starting rotation. Its kind of cool to see ... guys we got in the trade all in the rotation, Mackanin said. Its going to be fun to watch, I hope.DOUBLE DOINGSMurphy picked up his 40th double of the season, matching his career high. Hes the first second baseman in Nationals history (2005-present) to post a 40-double season.TRAINERS ROOMPhillies: 3B Mikail Franco (sore right thumb) was out of the lineup for the second straight game. Im not going to play him today just because its a little sore, Mackanin said. Theres a little bruising there.Nationals: Normally (these injuries) come around very well with treatment and strengthening programs, Lessard said of Strasburgs elbow. Its not a season-ending injury, but we still need to take time (so) that hes nice and strong because of his past.... Baker said RHP Joe Ross (right shoulder inflammation) is progressing well and the team is trying to determine where hell pitch next with few minor league games remaining.UP NEXTPhillies: Thompson (1-5, 6.48) makes his seventh career start and second against the Nationals. The right-hander allowed two runs and seven hits in seven innings of a 4-0 loss to Washington on Aug. 29.Nationals: RHP Tanner Roark (14-8, 2.89) looks to continue his recent mastery of the Phillies. Hes 3-0 with a 0.64 ERA versus Philadelphia this season. His career mark against them is 5-5 with a 3.81 ERA in 11 games, including nine starts. Cheap Sneakers Websites . The Browns coaching search remains incomplete. Sneakers Online Uk Sale . The 18-year-old American had five birdies in her bogey-free round for a 17-under total of 196. Lee held the overnight lead but mixed three birdies with two bogeys for a 70. http://www.cheapsneakersuk.com/ . Mickelson barely made the cut but had the best round of the day with nine birdies and an eagle coupled with two bogeys to sit two shots behind leader Craig Lee of Scotland. Lee shot a 69 for a 12-under 204 total. "I just love the fact I am in contention and have an opportunity in my first tournament of the year here in Abu Dhabi," Mickelson said. Cheap Wholesale Sneakers Free Shipping . The 29-year-old from Port Colborne, Ont., has nothing but good things to say about former U.S. marine Liz (Girlrilla) Carmouche ahead of their co-main event Wednesday on the UFCs "Fight for the Troops" televised card in Fort Campbell, Ky. Cheap Sneakers Wholesale . -- Linebacker Myles Jack ran for four touchdowns, defensive end Cassius Marsh caught a scoring pass, and No. ATLANTA -- Braves ace Julio Teheran doesnt mind missing out on a winning decision when Atlanta squeaks out a rare home victory.Whenever I go out there, I just try to do my job and give the team a chance to win, just concentrate on that, he said. If I get the win Im happy with that, and if I dont get the win and the team still wins, Im happy with that.Chase dArnaud singled with two outs in the ninth inning off Gonzalez Germen and Atlanta beat the Colorado Rockies 1-0 on Sunday to avoid a three-game sweep.The Braves are just 14-36 at Turner Field and have baseballs worst overall record, but they snapped a four-game skid to Colorado.Following dominant outings through the seventh by Teheran and Rockies starter Jon Gray, the Braves used four relievers and the Rockies one before Germen (2-1) gave up Ender Inciartes leadoff single in the ninth.Anthony Recker bunted over Inciarte, who advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on dArnauds liner to left field.Teheran scattered three hits, walked one and struck out five. Pitching for the majors weakest offense, the two-time All-Star remained winless with a 2.90 ERA in 11 home starts.Teheran didnt allow a baserunner until Tony Wolters singled in the fourth. That was all Colorado could muster until Charlie Blackmon singled with two outs in the sixth.Daniel Delscaso was the third Rockie to get into scoring position with a double in the seventh. Cristhian Adames, the next batter, drew a four-pitch walk before Brandon Barnes grounded out.Conditions were tough with a 102-degree heat index.It was getting me at the end, but I was really focused in the game to give my team a chance to win, Teheran said. Im just happy the way we finished.Jim Johnson (2-5) gave up onne walk in two-thirds of an inning to get the win.ddddddddddddGray, who allowed five hits and three walks in a career-high 115 pitches, stranded two runners in the seventh with his fifth strikeout. The rookie has a 3.11 ERA and 64 strikeouts in his last 10 games.The first couple of innings I was kind of trying to find my groove, but then I got going, Gray said. It was fun (going against Teheran). I was glad to keep us in the game.DArnaud went 3 for 5 with three singles. He credited Jace Peterson with drawing a walk to set up his at-bat.I swung right through the first pitch, a change-up, dArnaud said. I was early, so I had to make an adjustment from there. I wanted to shorten my swing up. I think because I was taking my time loading, I was able to react a little quicker with the fastball inside and square it up.TOUGH WEEKENDBraves 1B Freddie Freeman, who had a cancerous mole removed from his upper back earlier in the week, struck out four times, stranded three runners and went 0 for 11 in series.IN THE DIRT AGAINTeherans wild pitch in the sixth was the Braves ninth in the series. Atlanta leads the majors with 52 wild pitches.TRAINERS ROOMBraves RHP Shae Simmons, sidelined by Tommy John surgery the last 1 1/2 years, will throw a simulated game on Monday.UP NEXTRockies: LHP Tyler Anderson (1-3) won on July 9 for the first time in six starts. He will face Tampa Bay for the first time.Braves: RHP Matt Wisler (4-8) is 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA in one career start against Cincinnati.---This story has been corrected to show the last name of the Rockies catcher is Wolters, not Walters. ' ' '
