PHILADELPHIA -- Jimmy Rollins was just hoping for a chance. Jahlil Okafor Pelicans Jersey . When Cesar Hernandez provided that opportunity, he made the most of it. Rollins hit a tying RBI double and scored on Carlos Ruizs single in Philadelphias two-run eighth inning, helping the Phillies edge the Washington Nationals 3-2 on Monday night. Hernandez started the winning rally with a two-out walk against Tyler Clippard (6-3). He came around to score on Rollins double. "I was really hoping (Hernandez got on base) so I could get up there and have a chance to do something," Rollins said. "We put some at-bats together and it worked out." After Chase Utley was walked intentionally, Ruiz drove in Rollins with a single to left. B.J. Rosenberg (1-0) recorded the final out of the eighth for the win and Jonathan Papelbon finished for his 24th save in 30 chances. "That was really a tough one; it really hurt," Nationals manager Davey Johnson said. "It was like a stab in the heart." The Nationals put runners on the corners with one out in the ninth, but Wilson Ramos was called out on strikes and Anthony Rendon struck out swinging to end the game. Ryan Zimmerman homered for Washington, which had won nine of 12. The Nationals fell 7 1/2 games back of Cincinnati for the second NL wild card. "We had opportunities . but we couldnt get it done," Johnson said. The Nationals took a 2-1 lead in the eighth on Scott Hairstons bases-loaded sacrifice fly that scored Rendon. Hernandez, a converted infielder who was playing his first career game in centre, fielded the ball in shallow centre field but his throw went weakly up the third-base line. Philadelphia left-hander Cole Hamels and Washington right-hander Stephen Strasburg each pitched well before turning a tie game over to the bullpens. "It was quite a pitchers battle," Phillies interim manager Ryne Sandberg said. Hamels struck out eight in seven sharp innings, limiting the Nationals to one run and two hits. He threw 87 pitches, 69 for strikes. Hamels has a 1.90 ERA in his last seven starts but has just two wins during that span. The left-handers record stands at 6-13, thanks partly to the fourth-lowest run support (3.44) among all major league starters entering Mondays action. The performance was somewhat surprising considering Hamels struggled to find his rhythm in his pregame bullpen session. "Sometimes later in the year its hard to get loose," he said. But facing Strasburg helped, he said. "Anytime you get to compete against the best, you try to up your game," Hamels said. "You try to throw zeroes just like hes doing. I definitely would take pitching against him more often than not because you feel like you really do have to strive for perfection." Strasburg fanned 10 while giving up an unearned run and two hits in six innings. He threw 100 pitches, 64 for strikes. The right-hander said he struggled maintaining his grip on the ball on a humid evening that began with a gametime temperature of 81 degrees. "I was sweating a lot out there," he said. "It affected me not being able to pitch more innings. Strange circumstances but I have to be able to deal with it. It was tough gripping the ball like I usually do." Zimmerman connected on an 0-2 pitch in the first for his 16th homer. Washington got just two baserunners off Hamels from that point, with Ramos reaching on an error in the fifth and Bryce Harper singling in the sixth. Strasburg was equally stingy. His only blemish was Ruizs broken-bat RBI single in the fourth that scored Rollins, who had walked. It was an unearned run because Rollins reached second when Ramos throw trying to pick him off at first hit Utleys bat and went to the backstop. Strasburgs record, like Hamels, isnt indicative of how well he has pitched. Strasburg has a 2.41 ERA in his last six starts but has just one win during the stretch. The teams combined to use seven relievers after the starters left. NOTES: Johnson said Harper has a sore hip. "He keeps saying, Im fine, Im fine. Hes a tough kid," Johnson said. "Thats the way he is." Harper missed 31 games with a left knee injury earlier this season. ... Hairston entered with a .412 average (14 for 34) and five homers against Hamels, but went 0 for 3 with three strikeouts against the lanky lefty. ... The three-game series continues Tuesday night when Washington LHP Gio Gonzalez (8-6, 3.56 ERA) opposes RHP Ethan Martin (2-3, 6.39 ERA). ... INF Freddy Galvis and RHP Tyler Cloyd were among the six players the Phillies called up from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Philadelphia also recalled relievers Luis Garcia, Mauricio Robles and Joe Savery, and purchased the contract of C Cameron Rupp from Lehigh Valley. Custom New Orleans Pelicans Jerseys . No surprise there. Kershaw, who also earned the title after throwing his first career no-hitter in June, had a 1. Jahlil Okafor Jersey . Jacob Jacques, Andrew Ryan and Jonathan Drouin also scored for Halifax (37-18-3), who outshot the Islanders 40-26. Kevin Darveau stopped 25 shots. Bradley Kennedy had the lone goal for Charlottetown (18-33-5), which has nine losses in its last 10 games. http://www.shoppelicansonline.com/Authentic-Anthony-Davis-Pelicans-Jersey/ . - The width of Alec Martinezs shin guard was the difference between the Los Angeles Kings and the Anaheim Ducks in their playoff series opener.(SportsNetwork.com) - The Los Angeles Clippers will try for a second consecutive win to open a nine-game homestand on Saturday afternoon, but theyll face a stiff challenge from the Eastern Conference-leading Toronto Raptors. Los Angeles still has the Utah Jazz, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat on this residency. The Clips began this stay with a 100-86 Christmas night win over their bitter rivals, the NBAs best team, the Golden State Warriors. Jamal Crawford scored half of his 24 points in the final quarter, and the Clippers overcame a sluggish start. The Clippers went 4-of-24 from the field in the opening quarter and shot 27.7 percent over the first 24 minutes, but went ahead for good with nearly 4 1/2 minutes left in the third and dominated the fourth. Chris Paul provided 22 points and Blake Griffin chipped in 18 with 15 rebounds and six assists for the Clippers, who began a franchise-record homestand by snapping a two-game skid. Theyve won eight in a row at home. Jamal came in and picked up our slack, Griffin said. After shooting 27 percent in the first half we were down by only one. We kept the faith. It was a great win. DeAndre Jordan scored 14 points to go with 12 rebounds in the win, as the Clippers got revenge for a 121-104 loss in Oakland on Nov. 5. Its niice to beat them because theyre good, Clippers coach Doc Rivers said. New Orleans Pelicans Jerseys. Were better mentally than when we played them last time. The Raptors started a six-game sojourn with a loss in Chicago. Theyll visit the Denver Nuggets, Portland Trail Blazers, Warriors and Phoenix Suns on this odyssey. On Monday, the Toronto defense didnt show up in a 129-120 loss at the United Center. Kyle Lowry tallied 34 points and six boards, while Jonas Valanciunas added 20 points and nine rebounds for Toronto, which had its six-game winning streak snapped. Terrence Ross finished with 17 points, followed by 16 from James Johnson and 12 apiece from Lou Williams and Patrick Patterson. I thought our defensive attention to detail wasnt there, Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. The Bulls, who trailed by as many as 12 in the second half, pulled away in the fourth by outscoring the Raptors 49-37. The game was tied 95-95 just prior to the midway point of the frame before Chicago went on an 18-8 run over the next 4:48. The Raptors committed only eight turnovers, but allowed the Bulls to shoot 54.1 percent from the field and 50 percent from long range. Chicago shot a whopping 43-for-47 from the free-throw line. The Clippers have won two in a row and five out of six against the Raptors. LA has taken four straight as the host in this series. ' ' '