The Phillies won the first game of their four game series vs the Nationals last night by a final score of 7-5. Between the Phillies’ win and a Mets loss 6-3 loss to Miami, Philadelphia is now just 2.5 games out of first place in the NL East.

Ranger Suarez got the start for the team tonight, and after just throwing 33 pitches, he was pulled from the game heading into the fourth inning. The team originally announced that the plan was to see how Ranger felt after his first three innings, and if they stuck to the plan, he must have not felt comfortable to return to the mound. In those three innings, Suarez allowed zero hits, walked one batter, and struck out one as well.

Odubel Herrera has been hot over his last 7 games, hitting .350 with one home run and four RBIs, slashing a .967 OPS. Centerfield has been one of the biggest issues with the team this year, after losing Adam Haseley, Roman Quinn, and never knowing what you’re going to get from Odubel. The game was tied 0-0 heading into the fifth inning, as Herrera stepped to the plate.

Hector Neris came into the game after Suarez exited and seems like a different pitcher since he was removed from the closer role . Neris seems a lot more comfortable on the mound since demoted from being the ninth inning guy, and that comfort rolled into tonight as well. He threw the fourth and fifth inning for the team, allowing just one hit and striking out two batters.

I don’t know what it is with Joe Girardi loving below average relievers, but it’s starting to become concerning. First it was David Hale, and now it’s Enyel De Los Santos. He brought De Los Santos into a one run game in the 6th inning, and Andrew Stevenson made him pay with a solo shot to right field to tie the game. De Los Santos should never be in the game in that situation, but with Connor Brogdon not ready to throw yet, it seems like Girardi ran out of options.

Segura would score in the top of the seventh on a wild pitch, moving the score to 2-1 in the Phillies favor. Ryan Zimmerman would take the lead for the Nets in the bottom half of the same inning, because it’s Ryan Zimmerman playing the Phillies, of course he did.

The Phillies would erupt in the 9th, with an all around hit fest from the team. Segura would double Torreyes in, Realmuto would single to left to score Jankowski, Bohm would tack on an RBI as well as Didi, as the Phillies put up a five spot in the 9th to make it a 7-3 game.

Ian Kennedy would come into the game in the 9th to finish out the game, and although he let up a two run home run to bring it to a two run game, he would eventually get the job done. Why did Joe Girardi throw his “new closer” 25 pitches in a 13 run game on Sunday, then throw him again in the 9th on Monday? I don’t know. But it wouldn’t matter, as Ian Kennedy would eventually get the job done, in the most Phillies way possible…..making us sweat it out.

Was it the praying mantis that started a Phillies run? The team would take game one by a final score of 7-5. Archie Bradley would get the win, and Ian Kennedy would collect the save. The Phillies are back to .500 at 53-53, holding a .500 record for the 22nd time this season. The team will square off against the Nationals tonight at 7:05, with Zack Wheeler (8-6, 2.45 ERA) going up against Patrick Corbin (6-9, 5.78 ERA).

Mandatory Credit: Philadelphia Phillies via Twitter