"A few second span during the second inning summed up Cole Hamels' night.

With Laynce Nix coming around to score from second base on Rick Ankiel's single, Hamels stood frozen near the mound.

The left-hander waited far too long to attempt to back up catcher Carlos Ruiz at home. It wasn't until until Shane Victorino's throw had nearly reached home when Hamels was crossing the foul line between third and home.

Had the ball skidded past Ruiz, it would have created even bigger problems than just the two-run inning that was key in the Phillies' 4-2 loss to the Nationals at Citizens Bank Park on Friday night.

OK, so that embarrassing moment didn't happen.

But at least for a few moments, manager Charlie Manuel had some concerns about Hamels, who he said had trouble loosening up because of shoulder tightness.

"He didn't have command. His shoulder was stiff," manager Charlie Manuel said. "Wasn't getting loose. If you notice, he was having a hard time getting his fastball.

"Yes, there's concern. There's definitely concern there I guess."

Hamels shrugged it off, saying it's something that's happened to him every year.

"It was kind of one of those things where I wasn't able to get loosened up, just kind of that part of the year," Hamels said. "You fatigue a little bit and you just have to battle through it. I've got a couple days, I'll work out and try to get into the best shape for the next start."

Hamels hardly looked the part of a pitcher in the running for the Cy Young Award.

His velocity on his fastball was down, which greatly attributed to his ineffectiveness. In his first 24 starts this season, Hamels' fastball averaged 91.4 mph. But on Friday, it averaged just 88.6 and maxed out at 91.6 mpg."