The Phillies battled back after going down early and swept the Nationals today, by a final score of 7-6. The offense came alive when we needed them the most, and got the job done in the 9th inning. The Phils are three games above .500 at 56-53, and for the first time since the middle of May, they sit just a half game back of the New York Mets.

Ronald Torreyes got things started in the top of the second, with an RBI single to center that would score Rhys Hoskins. RoTo has been fantastic this season for the Phils, statistically having the best season of his career. Bryce Harper has been the hottest player in baseball over the last few weeks. He’s hitting .417/.533/.875 over his last 15 games, with 2 HRs and 5 RBIs.

Bryce Harper, the DC villain, would step up to the plate in the top of the third, and continue his August tear. He crushed this ball to deep centerfield, giving the Phillies a 2-0 lead, and Bryce his 250th home run of his career.

Aaron Nola struggled again today. His fastball command wasn’t there, and his pitches were just all over the place throughout his whole day. Nola would let up an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth, load the bases, then hit a batter to walk in the second run of the inning, tying up the ballgame at two each.

Josh Bell has killed the Phillies this year, and continued to do so today. Nola hung a pitch on a clothesline right over the plate in the bottom of the 5th, and Bell made him pay for it.

Aaron Nola’s day would come to an end after that inning. Nola threw five innings, giving up five hits, five earned runs, and struck out seven batters. Nola has been up and down this year, and on a day where the team needed him the most, he didn’t have his stuff.

Enyel De Los Santos would come into the game in the 6th. He would hit the pitcher in the hand, pickoff a man off of first, and eventually get out of the inning with zero runs allowed. De Los Santos hasn’t been great for the Phillies this year, and with today’s game being only a 3 run deficit, I didn’t really get the move from Girardi. But, it would work out in the Phillies favor, as Enyel came in a did his job.

The Phillies kept battling back and never went down without a fight. Didi Gregorious would send a ball to deep right field, but an outstanding catch would be made by Juan Soto to keep the ball in the park. Alec Bohm would send a double to the left center gap, and Odubel Herrera would knock him in to make the game 5-3.

Jose Alvarado would come into the game in the bottom of the 7th. He’d get into some trouble, but would be saved by an outstanding play from Didi Gregorious that would save a run.

You thought this team was going to go down without a fight? After loading the bases in the top of the 9th, JT Realmuto would step up to the plate, and down to his last strike, he displayed a beautiful piece of hitting to tie this ballgame up at 5 a piece.

Oh, but they weren’t done. Rhys Hoskins stepped up to the plate with Torreyes on second and Harper (thanks to an intentional walk) on first, and kept making this Nationals team pay, continuing the 9th inning two run rally.

Archie Bradley would enter the game in the 9th, and made it interesting, like all Phillies pitchers love to do. Juan Soto would score on an error to make it 7-6, but Bradley would get the job done, and finish out the game for the Phils.

The Phillies won their fifth game in a row, and swept the Nationals today, winning by a final score of 7-6. With a Mets loss to the Marlins earlier today, the Phils now sit just a half a game back of first place in the NL East. The biggest series of the year is upon us this weekend, as the Mets will come to Philly for a three game series.

I’ll leave you with this wonderful tweet from last year. Pack the Bank this weekend ladies and gentlemen, the Phillies are hot.

Mandatory Credit: Philadelphia Phillies via Twitter