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VIDEO: Desmond's HR, Gonzalez's pitching defeat Phils

Washington's Ian Desmond hit a home run and hit an RBI single as the Nationals held on to edge the Phillies 2-1 Monday.

Kyle Kendrick (0-4) made his second start in place of the injured Vance Worley and tossed 7 innings for the first time this season, dinged only by Desmond's solo homer in the 2nd and then the single in the 4th which scored Bryce Harper. Kendrick struck out 4 while walking two.

Meanwhile southpaw Gio Gonzalez (6-1) continued the Phillies' troubles with left-handers, as he pitched 6 scoreless, 3-hit innings for the Nats. It was Gonzalez's 9th straight winning decision in the month of May going back to 2010, and his 4th scoreless outing of the season.

Philadelphia's first good chance came in the 6th when Shane Victorino's double put runners at 2nd and 3rd with nobody out. Hunter Pence then lined straight at center-fielder Rick Ankiel who dove to make the tag. Placido Polanco, the runner at 3rd, was standing 5 feet off the bag and didn't have time to tag up and try to score against the former pitcher. Carlos Ruiz then grounded to 1st baseman Adam LaRoche, who threw home to narrowly retire Polanco who was running on contact. John Mayberry Jr. then ended the threat with a fly out to right.

The Phillies then attempted another rally in the 8th, when Polanco and Victorino hit back-to-back 1-out singles, but Hunter Pence hit a first pitch pop-up, and Ruiz grounded in a fielder's choice to end the threat. The offense connected on just 5 hits while being blanked for the 3rd time this year.

Henry Rodriguez came in to try to nail down his 10th save, but after allowing a walk, a single, and 2 wild pitches, Sean Burnett came into the game with the tying run on second. Following a sacrifice fly by Ty Wigginton to make it 2-1, Hector Luna walked to put runners on 1st and 2nd with 2 outs. Polanco then lined out to Steve Lombardozzi at 2nd to end the game. Burnett recorded his 2nd save.

Kendrick and reliever Raul Valdes combined to retire the last 17 batters they faced, but it was not enough to avoid the team's 3rd straight loss.

The Phillies slide back under .500 at 21-22. Game two of the three-game set is Tuesday at 7:05 with Roy Halladay scheduled to face Jordan Zimmermann. Halladay has not lost to the Nationals franchise since 2002.