PHILADELPHIA (AP) – David Bell’s sacrifice fly off Hector Carrasco in the ninth inning snapped a rare pitcher’s duel at Citizens Bank Park and lifted the Philadelphia Phillies to a 1-0 win over the Washington Nationals on Saturday.

Bobby Abreu lined a single to right off Carrasco (3-2) to lead off the ninth. After Pat Burrell struck out for the third time, Chase Utley doubled to right and Ryan Howard was intentionally walked.

Bell hit a long fly to left and Matt Cepicky never attempted a throw.

Billy Wagner (2-1) earned the win with a scoreless ninth and the Phillies won their first 1-0 game in the second year of their home park.

The Nationals wasted a strong effort from John Patterson, who saw one of his finest efforts of the season turn into his 10th no-decision this year.

Patterson came in with a groundball (68) to flyball (118) ratio of 0.6, but even with that lopsided number, he amazingly didn’t get an out on the ground. First baseman Carlos Baerga didn’t have his first putout until he caught a popup in the seventh.

Patterson struck out Philadelphia’s 3-4-5 hitters in the fourth, then whiffed Howard to start the fifth. When Patterson got Burrell to strike out swinging in the sixth, it was the right-hander’s season-high eighth and final strikeout.

Patterson allowed only singles to Kenny Lofton and Jimmy Rollins and didn’t allow anyone past second. He walked just one.

Lidle, who won his last two starts, was sharp, also. He struck out seven, walked one and gave up five hits in eight innings, his longest effort since he tossed a complete game at Baltimore on May 22.

Lidle was the beneficiary of some nifty defense, also. In the seventh, second baseman Utley made a diving stop to his right and erased Baerga on a force at second. After reaching on the fielders’ choice, Cepicky was caught stealing by Mike Lieberthal to end the inning.

The Nationals are still guaranteed of going into the All-Star break in first place in the NL East. Last year, the Phillies led the division, then finished 10 games behind Atlanta in the final standings.

Notes: Baerga went 3-for-4. … RHP Geoff Geary will miss the rest of the series after he was struck in the right eye with a foul ball while batting Friday night. “My eyeball was in shock,” Geary said. “My doctor stressed I don’t want to get hit in the eye again.” … Here’s one reason why the Nationals are in first and the Phillies in last: Washington leads the majors with 24 one-run wins, while the Phillies are just 9-11 in one-run games. … One well-intentioned adult gave a foul ball to a little boy who then threw it down into the box seats.

AP-ES-07-09-05 1631EDT

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