Phillies Lose to Nationals, Finishing at .500

The NL East champion Washington Nationals secured home-field advantage throughout the postseason by beating the Philadelphia Phillies 5-1 Wednesday for their majors-high 98th victory, with Ryan Zimmerman homering moments after the Teddy Roosevelt mascot won the Presidents Race at Nationals Park for the first time.

By winning their regular-season finale, the Nationals clinched top seeding for the NL playoffs and will open on the road Sunday at the winner of Friday's wild-card game between Atlanta and St. Louis. Game 2 will also be at the wild-card winner's stadium, before the best-of-five series shifts to Washington.

Before Wednesday's game, the Nationals were fitted for hats with postseason patches.

The Phillies finish their season with an 81-81 record.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)