“It looked like he just ran out of gas,” Nationals manager Frank Robinson said about Halama. “He had nothing.”

Abreu added an RBI single off Mike Stanton in the fourth, scoring Michaels, who went 3-for-5 with two doubles and three runs scored. Stanton was pitching in his fourth game in three days, symptomatic of a bullpen hampered by injuries and some short recent outings by starters.

“The thing about the pitching staff right now is it’s taxed. It’s overtaxed. It’s tired,” Robinson said.

For the Phillies, it was their third straight victory against teams trying to catch them in the wild-card standings, following two against the New York Mets.

Washington was a step late all night. In addition to Michaels’ play in the first, center fielder Preston Wilson had a ball go in and out of his glove on a tough play in the fourth. And Wilson was called out in the sixth when Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins ranged to his right and slid in the outfield grass to stop a grounder, then made a one-hop throw to first.

“We’ve got to realize what we’re playing for,” Wilkerson said. “Now’s the time to want it.”

Notes: Alex Gonzalez of the Devil Rays now has most at-bats with the bases loaded among active players without a grand slam. ... Phillies RHP Gavin Floyd will start Sunday in place of RHP Robinson Tejeda (inflammation in his pitching shoulder).

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