Red Hot Phillies Sweep Friday Double Header Over Lowly Nationals
The red hot Phillies swept both games of their day/night doubleheader against the Nationals on Friday, taking game one 5-3, and game two by a score of 8-7 in extra innings.
Game 1: Phillies Win 5-3
Phillies (34-31) Beat Nationals (23-44)
- Winning Pitcher: Ranger Suarez (5-4, 4.43)
- Losing Pitcher: Joan Adon (1-11, 6.97)
- Save: Brad Hand (2, 1.86)
Game 2: Phillies Win 8-7
Phillies (35-31) Beat Nationals (23-45)
- Winning Pitcher: Jose Alvarado (1-1, 7.16)
- Losing Pitcher: Steve Cishek (0-2, 4.08)
- Save: n/a
The Phillies have won three straight over the lowly Washington Nationals, after sweeping a day/night doubleheader on Friday. With the pair of victories, the Phillies have now won 14 of their last 16 games and improved to 13-2 under interim manager Rob Thomson.
The Phillies are now a season best 4 games over .500 and have won an amazing 11 straight games against the Nats. It feels so great to pound this sorry excuse for a baseball team, especially after how insufferable their fanbase was after their World Series victory.
Things would have been much worse for Washington if not for Josh Bell, who hit three combined home runs, including two in the second game, tallying 5 RBI on the day. This guy is such a former Phillie and he doesn’t even know it yet. There has to be a way Domrbrowski can trade for him at the deadline and find a spot in the lineup. Can he play second base?
In game one, Nick Castellanos knocked in two runs and Bryce Harper had three hits, in leading the way for the Phils. Ranger Suarez tossed 5.2 innings allowing 6 hits and 3 ER, including a two run home run to Josh Bell that cut the Phils lead down to two runs in the 6th inning.
Connor Brogdon, Seranthony Dominguez, and Brad Hand combined for 3.1 clutch innings of relief, as the Phils needed to save additional arms for the second game. Brad Hand allowed a hit and a walk in a tense 9th inning, but was able to pick up the save, his second of the season.
In game two, the Phils and Nats traded shots back and forth, as the lead changed hands five times, including the 9th inning. With two outs, Didi Gregorius fielded a ground ball at shortstop and threw the ball over the head of Rhys Hoskins at first base, allowing the tying run to score for the Nats.
In extra innings, the Phils were able to score two runs on a controversial interference call that ended with the ejection of Nationals manager Dave Martinez.
With one out and runners on second and third base, JT Realmuto hit a ground ball toward Nats shortstop Luis Garcia, who collided with Rhys Hoskins making his way to third. Kyle Schwarber scored easily but Hoskins was thrown out by a healthy margin at home plate. The umpires convened shortly after and ruled that Garcia had interfered with Hoskins in the base path and would be awarded not only third base, but also home plate, putting the Phillies up 8-6.
Jose Alvarado allowed an RBI double in the bottom of the 10th, but was able to get former Phillie Caesar Hernandez to ground out to Alec Bohm at third base, ending what was a wild game.
After routing the Nationals on Thursday, the Phils have now won 5 of 6 against NL East teams. Yet, they are still just 11-15 against teams within their division. That will have to change if this team wants to make the playoffs and not better place to start than sweeping a 5 game series against the lowly Nats.
Lets go!
Game 1:
Nick Castellanos puts the Phils on the board with a 2 RBI double in the opening frame.
2-0 Phils
Alec Bohm lines a two out RBI double off the right field wall.
4-0 Phils
Lane Thomas rips a two run double of Ranger Suarez in the 3rd inning.
4-1 Phils
Nationals catcher Riley Adams throws the ball into the outfield on a pop throw allowing two runs to score.
5-1 Phils
Josh Bell takes Ranger Suarez deep for a two run bomb.
5-3 Phils
Brad Hands picks up his second save of the season by striking out former Phillie Caesar Hernandez.
Phils Win Game 1 of the double header 5-3!!!
Game 2:
Josh Bell battles back down 0-2 and demolishes a homer
1-0 Nationals
MATT VIERLING
1-1 Phils
Can the Nationals do anything right?😂
2-1 Phils
Nick “Wheels” Castellanos adds to the lead!
3-1 Phils
Josh Bell again…
3-3 Phils
Bryce Harper ties the game up with a pinch hit 2 RBI double.
5-5 Phils
Matt Vierling hits his second home run of the night to give the Phils the lead in the 9th inning
6-5 Phils
Didi Gregorius is unable to make a simple throw to Rhys Hoskins at first base and the Nationals tie it up with two outs. We’re headed to extra innings!
6-6 Nationals
JT Realmuto knocks in two runs including Rhys Hoskins. Hoskins was tagged out at home but the umpire ruled that Hoskins was interfered with in the base path. Strange play indeed!
8-6 Phils
Up Next
The Phillies take on the Washington Nationals on Saturday afternoon in the fourth game of a five game series.
Aaron Nola (4-4, 3.42) will toe the rubber facing off against Josiah Gray (6-4, 4.33).
NBC Sports Philadelphia will have the broadcast of the game.
Mandatory Photo Credit: Philadelphia Phillies
