Washington, DC (My Sportsbook) - David Bell belted his first career grand slam, and Jason Michaels had three hits and scored three times to power the Philadelphia Phillies past the Washington Nationals, 7-1, in the opener of a three-game series at RFK Stadium.

Bobby Abreu drove in two runs for the Phillies, who have won three straight. Philadelphia remained a half-game ahead of Houston for the top spot in the NL wild card race, as the Astros won in 13 innings over the Cardinals Friday night.

Brad Wilkerson had two hits and knocked in the lone run for the Nationals, who have lost five of their last seven contests and fell four games behind the Phillies.

"It's overtaxed, it's tired," Nationals manager Frank Robinson said of his offense. "We don't have an explosive type of offense."

Vicente Padilla (8-12) threw six solid innings to earn his 50th career victory. The right-hander allowed four hits, walked two and struck out a pair.

Bell, who came into the game hitting .371 this season against left-handers, drilled a 1-0 offering from John Halama (1-3) over the wall in left field in the third inning to give the Phillies a 5-1 lead. Jason Michaels and Pat Burrell each singled earlier in the inning, while Chase Utley walked.

Ryan Howard followed with a single and Mike Lieberthal doubled to the left field corner to make it 6-1.

Abreu, who plated Michaels with a single in the opening inning, drove him in during the fourth with another base hit.

Washington's run came in the second inning when Wilkerson's single scored Jamey Carroll, who walked.

Halama was charged with seven hits and six runs in three innings.

Game Notes

The Phillies recalled Gavin Floyd from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and he will start on Sunday in place of Robinson Tejeda, who has a sore pitching shoulder...Bell homered in his 127th career at-bat with the bases full, snapping the longest drought among active players without a grand slam. It was only his seventh homer of the season...The Phillies are 33-34 on the road this year, but have won 14 of their last 20 road games...The Phillies are 25-16 against left- handed starters this year...Ryan Zimmerman, a first-round selection in this year's draft, recorded his first major league hit with a double in the fifth inning.