Phillies collapse in heartbreaking extra-inning loss to Nats

By: Rebecca Serad, Sports Talk Philly Staff

Final: Washington Nationals 10, Philadelphia Phillies 6 ❖ Attendance: 38,073

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — At one point in tonight's game, the Philadelphia Phillies (7-3) had a 6-1 lead over the Washington Nationals (5-5). Then, the Nats scored nine unanswered runs and handed an extra inning loss to the Phils. It was the second time in the last week that the Phillies blew a significant lead against their division rivals from D.C. and ended up losing the ballgame. It's concerning, to say the least.

Phillies starter Aaron Nola had another uncharacteristic start. Over six and 1/3 innings, he allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits, including two home-runs. Nola has now allowed a combined five homers in his three starts this season. His line would have looked significantly different if he hadn't been sent back out for the seventh, as the Nationals scored three runs against him in that inning. Seranthony Dominguez finished the seventh without issue and Hector Neris battled through the eighth. Even Edubray Ramos looked sharp in the ninth inning before allowing the solo home-run that would send the game to extra innings. However, José Álvarez struggled immensely in the tenth and deservedly got the loss.

The Phillies bats came out swinging against Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg. They scored all six of their runs against the righty, who consequently only lasted four innings in the ballgame. Bryce Harper and Maikel Franco each hit their fourth homer of the season. Jean Segura hit his first triple of the season and knocked in multiple runs. Unfortunately, the offense didn't continue its trend of tacking on runs over the course of the game, and that proved to be part of the team's downfall this evening.

WP: Sean Doolittle (3-0, 0.00 ERA) ❖ LP: José Álvarez (0-1, 20.25 ERA)

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

Game Summary

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	R	H	E
WSH	1	0	0	0	0	1	3	0	1	4	10	14	0
PHI	0	0	4	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	9	1

The Nationals took an early lead in the ballgame. Adam Eaton led off the game with a double into no man's land. Phillies right fielder Bryce Harper almost made a spectacular catch, but the ball went off of his glove, allowing Eaton to go to second. Brian Dozier flied out to deep center, which allowed Eaton to advance to third. Anthony Rendon hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Eaton and give the Nats a 1-0 lead. Juan Soto was retired on a fantastic diving catch by first baseman Rhys Hoskins to end the inning.

The Phillies took the lead in the bottom of the third. Maikel Franco led off the inning with a long homer into the left-center field seats. Phils starter Aaron Nola was then walked. One out later, Jean Segura also walked. This put runners on first and second with one out for Harper. He proceeded to hit the second home-run of the inning to give the Phillies a 4-1 lead. After a flyout into foul territory by Hoskins, J.T. Realmuto hit his second infield single of the game. However, he was stranded, as Odubel Herrera popped out for the final out.

The Phils added on to their lead in the fourth. With one out, Franco singled to center. A strikeout by Nola brought Andrew McCutchen to the plate. During his at-bat, a passed ball allowed Franco to move up to second. McCutchen ended up walking to put runners on first and second with two outs for Segura. He tripled down the right field line, scoring both Franco and McCutchen. The Nationals opted to intentionally walk Harper after his home-run the previous inning. Hoskins grounded out to end the frame, leaving both Segura and Harper stranded on third and first, respectively.

The Nationals got a run back in the sixth. Victor Robles led off the inning with a single. One out later, Brian Dozier grounded out to Realmuto, which allowed Robles to move up a base into scoring position. This brought Rendon to the plate with two outs. He doubled to right field to score Robles. Soto struck out for the third out to end the threat.

The Nationals continued chipping away at the Phillies' lead in the seventh. Ryan Zimmerman reached on a throwing error by Franco to lead off the inning. Yan Gomes followed with a two-run homer to left-center to make it a 6-4 ballgame. One out later, pinch-hitter Howie Kendrick launched a solo home-run. This marked the end of Nola's outing, as the Phils opted to bring in a fresh arm in Seranthony Dominguez. The reliever retired Robles and Eaton on a groundout and a popout, respectively, to get out of the inning.

The Nationals tied the game in the ninth inning. Phillies reliever Edubray Ramos got the first two outs of the inning with no problem. However, Robles posed a problem for the right-hander. With two strikes, he hit a solo home-run to left field and snatched the win away from the Phillies. Ramos was replaced on the mound by José Álvarez, who retired Eaton on a groundout for the final out.

The Nats continued scoring in the tenth inning. Álvarez remained in the game and struggled immensely. Dozier and Rendon led off the inning with back-to-back singles. Soto followed with a home-run over the top of the right field foul pole. The Phillies asked to have the play reviewed, but the call on the field was upheld. Zimmerman and Gomes each singled to once again put runners on first and second with no outs for the Nationals. Wilmer Difo and relief pitcher Sean Doolittle both struck out and it seemed like the Phils could get out of the inning without allowing any more runs. However, that didn't pan out, as Robles doubled to right field. Zimmerman scored on the hit, while Gomes advanced to third. Eaton grounded out to end the inning, but the damage had already been done.

After leading 6-1 at one point in the game, the Phillies were losing and only had one at-bat to score four runs just to keep the game going. Ultimately, they went down in order without a fight and the Phils had to accept another hard to swallow loss to their division rivals.

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