PHILADELPHIA -- The Washington Nationals already have developed a knack for comebacks. Adidas Energy Boost 3 . Adam LaRoches tiebreaking single in the eighth inning helped the Nationals rally from an early deficit to beat the Philadelphia Phillies 5-3 Friday night. Cliff Lee outpitched Stephen Strasburg, but the Phillies bullpen struggled again. Mike Adams (1-1) and Jake Diekman allowed three runs and five hits in an inning. The Nationals have nine comeback wins in 29 games. "Its a bunch of guys who are not going to quit," Strasburg said. Benches and bullpens emptied in the fifth after Denard Span exchanged words with Lee. Span was upset that Lee threw an inside fastball as he called time-out. After he grounded out, Span stopped between the plate and the mound on his way back to the dugout and said something to Lee. Players ran on the field, but nothing happened. "He kept looking at me so I just said, If youre going to stand there in the box, be ready to hit," Lee said. "Ill take that strike every time, but I threw a ball." Lee allowed two runs -- one earned -- and four hits, striking out five in seven innings. Strasburg was hurt by an error on right fielder Jayson Werth, who dropped a foul ball two pitches before Marlon Byrd hit a three-run homer in the first inning. The hard-throwing right-hander gave up three unearned runs and six hits, striking out five in six innings. "After the first inning, I had better command on my fastball," Strasburg said. Jerry Blevins (2-0) retired the two batters he faced in the seventh to earn the win. Rafael Soriano tossed a scoreless ninth for his sixth save in six tries and extended his scoreless streak to 23 innings, dating to last season. The Phillies, who played just their second game in five days, have lost two in a row at home after a 6-4 trip to the West Coast. They had two scheduled off days this week and another game was rained out. Strasburg retired the first two hitters before Chase Utley and Ryan Howard hit consecutive singles. Werth then let Byrds fly ball bounce off his glove after a long run near the foul line. One pitch later, Byrd lined a 96 mph fastball into the seats in right-centre to give the Phillies a 3-0 lead. Lee left with a 3-2 lead, but the NLs worst bullpen promptly blew it. Span led off the eighth with a double off Adams. He stole third and scored on Anthony Rendons single to centre to tie it at 3-3. Werth followed with a single up the middle. Diekman replaced Adams and allowed LaRoches go-ahead RBI hit to centre. "They just keep battling," Nationals manager Matt Williams said. "Coming back is a trait they have. They fight. Its a very good sign." Ian Desmond followed LaRoches single with a double to right that just eluded Byrds diving attempt. Diekman escaped further trouble by striking out Danny Espinosa and Moore with runners on second and third. After Jose Lobaton walked to load the bases, Diekman struck out pinch-hitter Zach Walters. Tyler Moore connected off Lee in the third to cut it to 3-1. Moore started the fifth with a single, advanced to third when Jose Lobaton reached on second baseman Utleys fielding error. After Strasburg sacrificed, Span drove in Moore on a groundout to Utley. "It seems like we have a quiet confidence," Moore said. The Phillies relievers have a 5.07 ERA and have blown six saves, though closer Jonathan Papelbon is 8 for 9. "Weve been good in the eighth and ninth innings to this point, so its disappointing," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. NOTES: Moore is 6 for 12 with two homers off Lee. ... Lee had four walks entering the game, but walked two, including Strasburg on four pitches. ... Former Phillies closer Brad Lidge, who was 48 for 48 in save chances during Philadelphias 2008 World Series championship season, will throw out the first pitch Saturday night. ... RHP Tanner Roark (2-0, 2.76) goes for the Nationals against Philadelphias A.J. Burnett (1-1, 2.15) on Saturday night. Buy Adidas Originals Trainers . THE THUNDER & PACERS BENCHES: In a nutshell, not impressive at all. Adidas Zx 700 Sale Uk . Nick Young scored 17 points for Los Angeles, which lost five of its last seven before trouncing the Pelicans, who beat them handily last week in New Orleans. Jodie Meeks and Xavier Henry scored 15 points apiece for the Lakers, who led by 20 points in the first half before coasting to their 12th win in their last 13 regular-season meetings with New Orleans.EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Matt Cassel has seen a lot in 10 years in the NFL, including by his count seven different offensive co-ordinators in his last six seasons in the league. So when Cassel re-signed with the Minnesota Vikings in the off-season and started to digest Norv Turners new system, he knew hed have to work harder and study longer than he ever had before to win the starting job. Mission accomplished. Cassel was named the starting quarterback over first-round draft pick Teddy Bridgewater on Monday for the regular season opener against the St. Louis Rams, an achievement that resonated with a player who has evolved from no-name rookie to backup sensation to embattled starter and then to a journeyman veteran scratching and clawing to get another shot. "Ive been through a lot in my career," Cassel said. "Ive been through the ups, Ive been through the downs. Ive been through the highs and the lows. At this point nothing really surprises me in my career. Because of those (experiences), it callouses you to a few different situations that as a younger player I might not have taken it as well." One of those situations happened last year in Minnesota, when Cassel outplayed Christian Ponder and Josh Freeman during the season, but wound up starting only six games during a miserable 5-10-1 season. The Vikings fired coach Leslie Frazier and the rest of the staff after the season, hired Mike Zimmer and Turner to turn things around and brought Cassel back to bring some stability to the position. Cassel has been sharp while starting all three preseason games. He has completed more than 66 per cent of his passes for 367 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. "Matt did not do anything to lose the job this preseason," Zimmer said. "I think hes played great. The team has a lot of confidence in him. They feel good about his veteran leadership and presence." The Vikings traded back into the first round on draft night to get Bridgewater with the 32nd pick and have pegged him as the long-term answer for the teams unsettled quarterback spot. After an understandably up-and-down preseason opener, Bridgewater has played well iin the last two games. Questar Boost. In all three games, Bridgewater is 26 of 40 for 266 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions while getting most of his action with the backups and has impressed with his unflappable demeanour and low-key presence. "I told Teddy this morning that Im so happy hes here with us," Zimmer said. "Im glad hes the guy we picked. Ive loved everything that hes done. It wasnt anything that Teddy did or didnt do. Teddy will be, still in my estimation, a great player for this franchise for years to come." Bridgewater took the news in stride, saying he was looking forward to learning from Cassel, continuing to refine his understanding of the offence while staying ready if hes needed at any point this season. "When camp first started, I just wanted to learn as much as I could and try to get better each and every day, try not to make the same mistakes twice," Bridgewater said. "So I take my hat off to Matt. Hes been playing great this preseason. Im just going to continue to learn under him." In his first season as a head coach, Zimmer was asked if Cassel was his starter for the entire season or if there was a chance for Bridgewater to see time at some point in his rookie year. "We will hold the quarterback position to the exact same expectations as we do every other position. If you perform, you play. If you dont perform, then the next guy will get an opportunity at some point. And when we decide to do that, we sit down and discuss it. "That position, just like the outside linebacker spot, we have an expectation of performance and as long as those guys perform, they play." Notes: The Vikings announced their first round of cuts on Monday. Safety Mistral Raymond was waived/injured with a leg injury after three seasons with the team. The other cuts were: CBs Derek Cox and Robert Steeples, WRs Andy Cruse, Kamar Jordan, Ty Walker and Erik Lora, tackles Pierce Burton and Kevin Murphy, DLs Kheeston Randall, Tyler Scott and Jake Snyder, TE Kory Sperry and S Brandan Bishop. ... 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