WASHINGTON — Before Monday's home opener, the Washington Nationals spoke about being happy to finally be off the road, about knowing they aren't as bad as their record, about how long the season is.

Then the Nationals went out and lost 9-8 to a Philadelphia Phillies club mourning the pregame death of longtime broadcaster Harry Kalas. Ryan Howard, Raul Ibanez and Shane Victorino homered for Philadelphia, three errors by Washington contributed to three unearned runs, and the Nationals fell to 0-7 — still the only club in the majors without a victory.

At least Washington gave its fans something to cheer about late: Ryan Zimmerman hit a two-run homer off Phillies closer Brad Lidge, who hasn't blown a save since 2007.

But Lidge struck out Adam Dunn and Elijah Dukes before Nick Johnson grounded out to first base to end it. It's Lidge's third save this season and 47th consecutive converted chance.

Howard's first homer of 2009, a three-run shot off reliever Saul Rivera (0-1), broke a 4-all tie in the seventh inning. One out later, Ibanez hit his third of the season, making it 8-4.

Jamie Moyer (1-1), the slow-throwing lefty still going at 46, earned the victory, allowing four runs and eight hits in six innings. He allowed Dukes' solo shot in the fifth that tied it at 4.

The Phillies went back in front the next inning, when Rivera came on and immediately hit Victorino and Chase Utley before giving up Howard's drive to center field.

Dunn hit his second homer of the season off Clay Condrey in the seventh, a two-run shot into the visiting bullpen in left-center that got the Nationals within two. But Victorino's sac fly in the eighth restored the three-run lead.

Then in came Lidge in the ninth, which Cristian Guzman started with a single to right for his career-high-tying fifth hit of the game. Nothing comes easily for the Nationals, though: Guzman came out of the batter's box awkwardly and was removed for a pinch runner.

The Nationals went ahead 1-0 in the first — but, as usual this season, failed to take advantage of a chance to score much more.

Guzman reached on an infield single and Dunn walked with two outs before Dukes lined an RBI double to the left-field corner. After Johnson walked to load the bases, Jesus Flores grounded out to end the inning, making Washington's hitters 1-for-15 in 2009 with three runners aboard.

After Victorino homered in the third, he crossed himself, then pointed up to the broadcasting booth at Nationals Park, where Kalas was supposed to be working. But the voice of the Phillies for nearly four decades collapsed a couple of hours before the first pitch and was rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Kalas was 73.

The Phillies had a photo of Kalas taped inside their dugout during the game.

Notes: Nationals INF-OF Willie Harris went on the 15-day DL with a pulled side muscle. 2B Anderson Hernandez was brought off the DL and started; he made two errors. ... Guzman went 5-for-5 — all singles — with two RBIs and a steal. ... Nationals RHP Daniel Cabrera went five innings, allowing four runs — one earned.