After back-to-back nationally broadcasted wins, the Philadelphia Phillies flew back to Citizens Bank Park looking to continue their newfound momentum. For the second time this season, they faced off against McKenzie Gore and the Washington Nationals.
Back on Opening Day, Gore tore up the Phillies’ lineup in a shadowy Nationals Park, striking out an Expos/ Nationals Opening Day record 14 batters. While the offense was stymied by Gore, the Phillies eventually got to the Nationals bullpen and won in 10 innings.
Things looked immediately different on Tuesday night.
Phillies Strike First
Trea Turner opened up the game with a single. Then, Kyle Schwarber got hold of a first-pitch 96 MPH fastball in the upper part of the strike zone and took it beyond the left field fence. The 2-run homer extended his career-best on-base streak to 35 games. It was his 8th of the season.
Without the shadows, the Phillies were hitting the ball hard off of Gore. Ten of the balls the Phillies put in play were hard-hit (95+ MPH off the bat). One of the hardest hit balls came as a surprise in the 3rd inning. After narrowly missing a ball that turned into a triple, Johan Rojas launched at 103.8 MPH, 421 ft into the stands. It was his first homer of the season.
Zack Wheeler got the ball for the Phillies and looked sharp for most of the game. After the aforementioned triple (hit by CJ Abrams), Wheeler walked James Wood and hit Luis Garcia. With the bases loaded, Wheeler locked in and struck out Kiebert Ruiz.
Through 6 innings, Wheeler had just a single blemish. After a 10-pitch at bat, Luis Garcia took Wheeler deep, making it a 3-1 game.
Wheeler came back out for the 7th and recorded the first 2 outs. After allowing a double to Jacob Young, manager Rob Thomson brought in Matt Strahm. Strahm gave up an RBI double to Abrams and struck out James Wood to end the inning, 3-2 Phillies.
Bullpen Battle
José Alvarado entered the game to pitch the 8th but quickly ran into trouble. Quick singles by Amed Rosario and Kiebert Ruiz put men on first and third. A groundball to Trea Turner looked to be a quick out or 2 but turned into a bases-loaded jam. Turner failed to touch 2B before throwing home to prevent the runner from third from scoring. There was no error on the play.
Alvarado must’ve had plenty of coffee today because he struck out the next 3 batters swinging. It was an incredibly gutsy performance.
The Phillies got the offense going again in the 8th inning against Jose A. Ferrer. Rojas singled and Turner doubled him in for his 4th hit of the night. Bryce Harper bunted on the 1B side of the mound for a hit. A wild pitch would score Turner.
Then, a nightmare 9th inning occurred.
Orion Kerkering got the call with a 3-run lead. After recording a strikeout, he gave up a single to Abrams. James Wood followed that up with a liner that fell for a hit. Rojas majorly misjudged it and it carried over his head for a double.
Then on a groundball to short, Turner overthrew Harper for an error. After a second strikeout, Kerkering surrendered a go-ahead 3-run homer to Nathaniel Lowe, 6-5 Nationals.
Of course, the game wasn’t over. In the bottom of the 9th, Alec Bohm led off with a single to right field. Rob Thomson pinch hit Bryson Stott for Edmundo Sosa against the righty Kyle Finnegan. Stott worked out a full count walk. Bohm advanced to third on a flyout.
With a convoluted night already in the books, Johan Rojas came to the plate with runners on first and third. Stott stole second and Rojas fought off a pitch into right field. Bohm and Stott both tagged up and, thanks to a throw up the line, Bohm scored to tie things up.
Now 2 outs, Turner had a chance to make it a 5/5 night… or did he. On a 2-0 count, Finnegan uncorked a wild pitch and Stott charged down the line to walk it off. On the slide, Stott got his hand spiked by Finnegan.
“It calls to the grit of the club and the experience of the club,” said Rob Thomson postgame. “They never feel like they’re out of the game.”
“It was a crazy game. It really was,” emphasized Thomson. “It was kind of a weird night.”
Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
