Ruf Homers Twice in Phillies’ Loss to Nationals

A smile crept across Adam LaRoche's face while he rounded the bases Tuesday night after hitting his career-high 33rd homer to become the third Nationals player with 100 RBIs in a season, another celebratory moment for NL East champion Washington during a 4-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.

When the Nationals Park gates opened, early-arriving fans in the crowd of 33,546 were treated to a video montage of alcohol-spraying and general mirth-making from a night earlier, when the home team clinched its first division title since moving from Montreal in 2005.

Even the guy playing the national anthem on his bat-violin Tuesday wore a gray T-shirt marking the accomplishment.

Darin Ruf hit two solo homers for the Phillies, who fell to 81-80 on the season with one game remaining.

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