With the spoiler tag firmly tied around this 2014 Phillies team, the series against the Washington Nationals gives the fans a chance to watch some interesting matchups. While the Nats have all but wrapped up a playoff appearance, they have not secured the National League East title, and tonight's game would be another opportunity for Philadelphia to have an impact. They had already swept the division leaders last week, and now looked to back Jerome Williams against Stephen Strasburg in tonight's opening game.
The Game: The scoring started early DC, and it seemed the momentum Jerome Williams had built up over his last three starts was quickly fading. With Anthony Rendon already on base, Adam LaRoche homered into right field to open the score to 2-0. It would remain that way into the fourth, where Wilson Ramos would tack on a sacrifice fly. Rendon would get a chance to bring in some runs of his own in the fifth. With Strasburg and Denard Span already on base, a well-placed ball into right field turned into a twin-RBI double, and Washington now opened up a 5-0 advantage.
Philadelphia would add some offense in the sixth and seventh innings. An RBI double from Ben Revere in the sixth, coupled with Ryan Howard's 21st home run of the season in the seventh, brought the Phillies to within three. Unfortunately, RBIs from Jayson Werth and Adam LaRoche in the home half of that seventh innings gave the Nationals back their five run lead.
Inning number eight saw a rally begin for the Phillies, beginning with Grady Sizemore reaching on an error. A walk to Ben Revere set up two runners on the bags. With two away, Chase Utley stood in at the plate, and he would loop a ball out toward Denard Span in shallow center field. The ball would deflect off his glove, roll behind him, and allow Sizemore to score. A rare infield single for Ryan Howard brought in the Phillies fourth run, and heading into the ninth, the game score stood at 7-4.
Domonic Brown began the final inning by recording a single off of Washington closer Rafael Soriano. In an 0-2 count, the next batter, Carlos Ruiz, lifted a ball deep into left field behind Bryce Harper. The ball bounced in and out of a flower bed running across the top of the wall, which counts as a home run in Nationals Park. With that shot, the Phillies climbed to within one run. Maikel Franco would ground out next, and pinch hitter Cody Asche struck out swinging. It was now down to Ben Revere. He'd see five pitches and work the count to 2-2. Pitch number six turned out to be the winner, as Revere launched it five rows deep into the right field seats for his second career home run. It tied the game at seven, and sent Soriano packing. Jimmy Rollins would pop up on the first pitch he saw, and the game went into the bottom of the ninth.
In the eleventh, the score remained tied at seven. Domonic Brown led it off, and his fly ball into the left field alley caused Span and Harper to collide, allowing Brown to reach base. A sacrifice bunt by Carlos Ruiz moved Brown to third. A throwing error by Tyler Moore on Maikel Franco's ground ball allowed Brown to score and move Franco to second. A Darin Ruf fround ball moved Franco over, and the rookie would score on yet another base hit by Ben Revere. The frame would end when Revere was thrown out trying to steal third, but the Phillies held a two run lead heading into the bottom of the inning.
Jonathan Papelbon got the call to pitch the frame, and would run into a world of trouble. A walk and two straight singles with one out allowed a run to score for the Nationals. Ian Desmond stood in next, but three pitches later, he'd strike out swinging. Bryce Harper was the final hope, and he lined a ball out toward Domonic Brown in left. Fortunately, Brown was in the right place, and was able to make the catch for the final out. The Phillies walked away with the surprising 9-8 victory.
Ben Revere ended the game with three hits, including his second home run, three RBIs, a walk, and a stolen base. Tomorrow afternoon, A.J. Burnett and Tanner Roark will square off in a 4:05 contest.
