By Jack McCaffery

jmccaffery@delcotimes.com

PHILADELPHIA >> The Phillies continued to project a familiar feel in their post-Ryne Sandberg era Sunday when they lost, 3-2, to the Washington Nationals in the first game of a Citizens Bank Park doubleheader.

Despite a Jeff Francoeur home run and a capable start by Kevin Correia, the Phillies ran their losing streak to three games, two under interim manager Pete Mackanin, who replaced Sandberg Friday.

Correia struck out three in 5 1-3 innings, surrendering seven hits but just one earned run. His record fell to 0-2. The Nats' Stephen Strasburg struck out nine in seven innings, allowing four hits and two runs, to improve to 5-5.

The loss dropped the Phils 16.5 games behind Washington in the N.L. East.

Francoeur hit a second-inning home run deep to left, his fifth of the season, to give the Phils a 1-0 lead. His fifth-inning error, however, helped Washington tie the game.

Denard Span laced a double into the right field corner, which Francoeur bobbled twice. Span took third on the error and scored on a sacrifice fly to left by Danny Espinosa.

Correia walked Clint Robinson to open the sixth, and Dan Uggla followed with a single. After Ian Desmond skied to center, Robinson scored on Michael Taylor's double to left, giving Washington the lead and chasing Correia.

But Mackanin allowed Jeanmar Gomez to face only Strasburg, who would ground to second, then called for Jake Diekman. Diekman walked Span, then threw a wild pitch, allowing Uggla to score for a 3-1 Nationals lead.

The Phils pulled within 3-2 on Francoeur's single to center in the bottom of the inning after a Maikel Franco single and a walk to Ryan Howard.

With Cesar Hernandez on second after a single and a stolen base, David Carpenter struck out Howard to end an eighth-inning Phillies threat.

Drew Storen handled the Phils in the ninth for his 23^rd save.

Before the game, the Phillies activated Severino Gonzalez (2-2, 8.69 ERA), who was to face the Nationals' Tanner Roark (2-2, 3.25) in the second game of the doubleheader.

TWO THUMBS UP

n Stephen Strasburg was in control.

n Denard Span was everywhere.

TWO THUMBS DOWN

n Jake Diekman provided no relief.

n Cody Asche is not showing a corner-outfielder's bat.