Almost two weeks ago, the Phillies lost their fifth straight game. The bullpen was terrible. The offense could not keep up. All seemed lost. Bryce Harper made a comment that they had to “win nine of 10 games” to stay in the hunt.
Ten games later, Alec Bohm hit a game-winning sacrifice fly to secure the sweep over the Nationals, as well as the Phillies’ ninth win over the 10 game stretch. Bryce Harper is a prophet!
Phillies Sweep Nationals
Wow did this Tweet age poorly!
When a team chirps like this, they better have the stuff to back it up. This season, the Phillies have outscored the Nationals 34-16 in including the two-game set last week. The Phillies shutout the Nats for two consecutive days on Tuesday and Wednesday, showing pure dominance over their entire lineup. Maybe the Phillies sweeping the Nationals will teach their media team a lesson.
| All-Time | 140-145 | (.491) |
| 2020 | 0-6 | (.000) |
Rhys Hoskins went 5-for-12 on the series with three runs scored and four RBI. Jay Bruce scored four runs in the past four games. Andrew McCutchen had four RBI’s. Harper and Realmuto only had two hits apiece on the series, but it didn’t matter because the rest of the offense stepped up.
The Phillies’ starting pitchers pitched a combined 25.2 innings over the course of the series while only allowing six runs. They also struck out 24 batters while only walking seven. Nola and Wheeler proved that they are worthy of the title of “ace.” Following the series, the Phillies’ starting pitchers have a combined 3.91 ERA.
The offense was clicking, the starters were throwing, but the bullpen has begun to steal the show for the Phillies! Over the course of the four-game series, the bullpen has been called to pitch 11.1 innings and have done so while striking out 15. The pen allowed five earned runs over the course of those innings and has lowered the bullpen’s ERA to under 7.00 (6.75) for the first time this season. Blake Parker took the dub tonight and has yet to allow a run this season in 9.2 IP.
Playoff Run?
Above anything else, this 9-1 stretch for the Phillies has shown that they are in it to win it. Their one loss over the stretch included a 10-run comeback as the Phillies lost to the Braves 12-10 on Sunday. This team has shown resilience and, now that they have had such a terrible start, they can continue the Philadelphia tradition of being underdogs.
The Phillies are the sole owners of second place in the NL East. Given that second place from each division will make the playoffs this year, the Phillies should feel pretty good. But nothing is stopping them from making a run for the pennant as well.
Over Labor Day Weekend, the Phillies face the Mets for four. The Phillies swept the Mets earlier in the season, and will look to continue to do so. Over the course of the final 27 games, the Phillies have seven games against the Mets, seven against the Marlins, and four more against the Nationals.
Mandatory Credit – Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire
