Dalton Guthrie notches first MLB hit, 2 RBI in Phillies 5-3 win over Nationals
The Phillies used home runs from JT Realmuto and Rhys Hoskins to top the Nationals 5-3 in the series opener on Friday night.
Phillies (76-62)Â Beat Nationals (49-90)
- Winning Pitcher: Noah Syndergaard (9-9, 4.09)
- Losing Pitcher: Patrick Corbin (6-18, 6.30)
- Save: Nick Nelson (1, 4.55)
THE GOOD:
Dylan Guthrie went 0-3 in his first major league appearance on Tuesday against Miami while looking overmatched in each of his at-bats. Friday night was a different story as Guthrie logged his first major league hit and added 2 RBI’s that proved to the the difference in the Phillies series opener victory.
For the 6th round pick in 2017 out of the University of Florida who has never been near the top of the Phillies prospect rankings, it has to be a great feeling to know you belong at the highest level the game has to offer.
Both Rhys Hoskins and JT Realmuto added solo home runs in the 4th and 6th innings respectively. For Hoskins it was his first home run since August 16th when he hits two in a 11-4 victory over Cincinnati. Over the last two weeks Hoskins is slashing a respectable .333/.388/.444 but has only managed to produce a total of 3 RBI.
With Nick Castellanos on the DL and Bryce Harper still finding his way back from a long term injury, the Phillies could really use Rhys’s slugging potential in the middle of a what seems like a lineup that is growing younger by the week.
THE BAD:
Bryce Harper had the night off after showing some elbow discomfort in Thursday night’s loss to the Marlins. The rest was the first for Harper since he returned on August 26th against the Pirates after missing two months with a broken thumb. Over the past two weeks Harper has slashed just .262/.380/.333 with no home runs and 4 RBI in 50 AB.
“I think anybody that comes back from a short rehab stint kind of takes off and then plateaus. Maybe fatigue sets in or whatever,” Thomson said. “So he might be going through a little bit of that.”
If you asked for my opinion I would concede that Harper probably rushed it and came back a week or two too soon. Sure he looked electric in his first ten at-bats, but his last 40 have been uneven and lacking the balance and power he showed in the first half of the season.
THE UGLY:
Patrick Corbin makes almost $30 million a year and is just god awful. The Phillies absolutely dodged a bullet when they decided to sign Zack Wheeler during the 2018 off season instead of Corbin. Corbin who is still only 32 years old, entered the season as the 11th highest paid pitcher in baseball and entered tonight as the only full time starter in baseball with an ERA above 6.00.
Maybe the Nationals simply believe Corbin is a sunk cost after he produced a terific 5 WAR season during their 2019 run to a World Series victory. This season Corbin is worth a whopping -2.2 WAR and if you total his record over the seasons it adds up to a ghastly 15-34.
Edmundo Sosa has six hits in his last six at bats after driving a double off the Giant sign in center field.
Dalton Guthrie notches his first career hit and first career RBI with an RBI single to score Edmundo Sosa in the 3rd inning.
1-0 Phils
Rhys Hoskins goes yard in the 4th inning to deep right center field off of Patrick Corbin.
2-0 Phils
JT ‘BCIB’ Realmuto pushes the Phils lead to three runs with an RBI single in the 4th inning to scoring Alec Bohm from second base.
3-0 Phils
The Nationals get on the board in the 5th inning thanks a Lane Thomas RBI triple to cut into the Phils lead.
3-1 Phils
Matt Vierling makes a fantastic diving catch for the first out in the 6th inning!
J.T. Realmuto sends a solo home run out over the out of town scoreboard off Patrick Corbin in the 6th inning.
4-2 Phils
Noah Syndergaard, facing his last batter of the night, gives up a solo home run in the 7th inning cutting the Phils lead to one run.
4-3 Phils
Dalton Guthrie shows of his 80-grade speed with an infield RBI single to give the Phils a valuable insurance run in the 7th inning.
Phillies win 5-3
Up Next for the Phillies
The Phillies look to make it two wins a row against the Washington Nationals in the second game of a three game set at Citizens Bank Park.
Ranger Suarez (8-5, 3.52) will toe the rubber facing off against Erik Fedde (6-9, 5.08) with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05 pm.
NBC Sports Philadelphia will carry the broadcast of the game.
Mandatory Photo Credit: Philadelphia Phillies
