Reiseplan » the ball beyond Adrian from inside the penalty area

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. Adidas NMD Womens Pink .ca! Kerry, Two nights after the Scott-Eriksson incident in Buffalo, the Bruins returned home to play San Jose. In that game, Zdeno Chara put a check on Tommy Wingels that clearly targeted his head. New Adidas NMD 2019 . The Oilers come in having lost five in a row (0-4-1) and 16 of their last 20 games, dropping a 2-1 decision to the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. http://www.cheapnmdonline.com/ . The visitors took a deserved lead in the 16th minute with midfielder Yohan Cabaye curling the ball beyond Adrian from inside the penalty area. Adidas NMD R1 Womens Raw Pink . Sulaiman, 44, was chosen unanimously Tuesday in a vote by the leadership, the World Boxing Council said. Sulaiman becomes the sixth president of the organization. Adidas NMD Womens Black Pink . Thousands of Southern California fans enveloped the Trojans to celebrate an improbable win secured by an interim coach, an inconsistent kicker and a thin defence that wouldnt break. Can Joey Chestnut take the title belt back from 2015 champ Matt Stonie? See the Nathans Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest live on WatchhESPN.ddddddddddddWatch live ' ' '