Phillies come from behind to beat Nationals

By: Rebecca Serad, Sports Talk Philly Staff

Final: Philadelphia Phillies 7, Washington Nationals 5 ❖ Attendance: 17,642

PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Phillies (64-95) were looking to win both tonight's game as well as their final series against the Washington Nationals (95-63) this season. After a battle of the bats, the Phillies came out on top. Mark Leiter Jr. struggled in his final start of the season, allowing five runs on eight hits over four and 1/3 innings. The bullpen, including Yacksel Rios who earned his first Major League win, combined for four and 2/3 innings pitched, zero runs allowed and seven strikeouts. Closer Hector Neris recorded his 20th consecutive save. He's the first Phillie to convert 20 or more consecutive saves in a single season since Brad Lidge in 2008.

The Phils offense picked up Leiter and the 'pen. Aaron Altherr, Odubel Herrera and Jorge Alfaro combined for six hits, three runs scored and six RBI. With two walks tonight, Rhys Hoskins reached 23 for the month of September. He's the first rookie to have 23 walks in a single calendar month since Ed Bouchee in July of 1957. Even when Hoskins isn't picking up hits, he's still finding ways to get on base and contribute, which will be extremely important for the team moving forward.

WP: Yacksel Rios (1-0, 4.80 ERA) ❖ LP: Tanner Roark (13-11, 4.59 ERA) ❖ SV: Hector Neris (26)

Hub: Game Summary ❖ Starting Pitchers ❖ At the Plate ❖ Bullpen ❖ What's Next

Game Summary

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
WSH	0	0	1	1	3	0	0	0	0	5	11	1
PHI	0	3	0	0	3	0	0	1	X	7	9	0

The Phillies got the scoring started in tonight's game. Rhys Hoskins led off the bottom of the second inning with a walk. Aaron Altherr and Odubel Herrera followed with back-to-back singles to load the bases with no outs. Jorge Alfaro doubled on a barely fair ball off the right field wall, scoring Hoskins and Altherr. J.P. Crawford was walked to once again load the bases, this time for pitcher Mark Leiter Jr. He grounded into a 4-6-3 double play, but Herrera scored from third. This put a runner on third with two outs for Cesar Hernandez. He grounded out for the final out, leaving Alfaro stranded at third.

The Nationals got one back in the top of the third. Pitcher Tanner Roark led off the inning with a single to center. Trea Turner was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second for Bryce Harper. He grounded into a double play, which allowed Roark to move up to third. Daniel Murphy doubled to center field to score Roark from third and put the Nats on the board. Ryan Zimmerman popped out to end the frame.

The Nationals crept closer in the fourth inning. Anthony Rendon struck out for the first out. Jayson Werth was retired on a fantastic jumping catch by Herrera against the left-center field wall. Michael A. Taylor followed with a home-run just over the left field wall to make it a 3-2 ballgame. Pedro Severino followed with a walk but was ultimately stranded as Roark struck out for the third out.

The Nationals continued scoring in the fifth. Turner and Harper hit back-to-back singles to lead off the frame. They completed a double steal to put runners on second and third with no outs for Murphy. He walked to load the bases. Zimmerman was retired on a strike-out for the first out. Rendon followed with a single to right field to score Turner. Everyone else moved up a base. Leiter was then removed in favor of reliever Yacksel Rios. He allowed a double to Werth to score Harper and Murphy, both of whom were the responsibility of Leiter. This put runners on second and third for Taylor. He struck out. Severino was intentionally walked to load the bases with two outs for Roark. He struck out to end the threat.

The Phillies' bats got back to work in the bottom half of the inning. Hernandez led off the inning with a walk. One out later, Nick Williams grounded into a force out and Hernandez was retired at second for the second out. Hoskins walked to put runners on first and second with two outs for Altherr. He tripled to right field to score Williams and Hoskins to tie the game. Herrera followed with a double to score Altherr and give the Phillies a 6-5 lead. The Nationals also opted to remove their starter in the fifth, replacing Roark with Sammy Solis. He struck out Alfaro to end the frame.

The Phils added on in the eighth. Tommy Joseph got it started with a pinch-hit single to left field. Ty Kelly came in to pinch-run for him. One out later, Andrew Knapp singled to put runners on first and second with one out for Hernandez. During that at-bat, Nationals reliever Enny Romero threw a wild pitch, which allowed Kelly and Knapp to each move up a base. Hernandez reached on a fielder's choice. Murphy attempted to throw out Kelly at home, but Severino missed the catch and Kelly was safe. Knapp moved up to third on the play. During Galvis' at-bat, Hernandez stole second to put runners on second and third with only one out. Galvis ended up striking out for the second out, and Williams was retired on a grounder to second for the third out. That was all the Phillies needed to secure the victory.

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Starting Pitchers