Nationals stun Phillies late, 5-4

The Phillies’ four-game win streak came to a crashing halt Friday night, and it was the worst-case scenario with Jhoan Duran finally looking human.

Washington’s Daylen Lile ripped a tying single in the ninth, then stole third and scored the go-ahead run when J.T. Realmuto airmailed his throw into left field. Just like that, what looked like another Citizens Bank Park party turned into a 5-4 loss.

Jhoan Duran’s First Crack

🔔🔔 pic.twitter.com/I1gjaSemyC

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) August 23, 2025

Duran had been nails since coming over at the trade deadline, with six saves in six chances, and no one reaching second base against him.

That ended when Dylan Crews doubled off him with one out in the ninth. Lile followed with the game-tying RBI knock, then manufactured the winning run almost by himself.

It goes in the book as Duran’s first blown save in Philly. The honeymoon is over, but if we’re being honest, this was bound to happen eventually. Nobody’s untouchable forever.

Taijuan Walker’s Rough First, Then Settling In

Taijuan Walker’s night started ugly coughing up a three-run bomb to Riley Adams in the first inning but to his credit, he kept it together.

He lasted six innings, giving up just those three runs. Philly clawed back with homers from Realmuto and Bryson Stott to eventually grab the lead, but Walker’s pickoff obsession was the real subplot.

First base ump Cory Blaser had himself a night: three overturned pickoff reviews in the first five innings. Walker leads all right-handed pitchers in MLB pickoffs since 2015, but Friday night, the camera had other plans.

JT Realmuto’s Mixed Bag

Realmuto was both hero and villain. His solo homer and RBI single helped Philly claw back, but his throwing error in the ninth was the dagger. Stott added another homer, but the bats couldn’t erase the damage late.

Did you say "tie ball game"? pic.twitter.com/dYJg4nJOCA

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) August 23, 2025

J.T. REAL HOT RIGHT NOW pic.twitter.com/tvsZbBFmr2

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) August 23, 2025

The Bottom Line

A 5-4 gut punch and a reminder that late-inning chaos can strike even when you have a lockdown bullpen. The Phillies’ NL East lead is still strong, but these are the kind of losses you don’t want to pile up in August.

Up Next for the Phillies

The series continues Saturday:

• Nationals: LHP Mitchell Parker (7-13, 5.83 ERA)
• Phillies: RHP Aaron Nola (1-7, 6.92 ERA)

Philly needs a bounce-back to keep Washington from stealing momentum.

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