Categories: 2019 Postgame Recaps

Long ball dooms Phillies in loss against Nationals

Nick Pivetta struggled Thursday night. (Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire)

After losing both games of a doubleheader against the Washington Nationals on Wednesday, the Philadelphia Phillies losing streak was extended to four games in a row with a 7-3 loss Thursday night.

Nick Pivetta got the start for the Phillies, while Erick Fedde was on the mound for the Nationals.

The Phillies got into a hole against the Nationals in the bottom of the first. After an Anthony Rendon double, Juan Soto was able to drive the third baseman home with a double of his own. However, he was thrown out at third to end the inning. It was Soto’s 43rd RBI of the season, and it gave Washington a 1-0 edge.

The Nationals would continue to add onto their lead in the bottom of the third. Former Phillie Howie Kendrick started off the frame with a single, before catcher Kurt Suzuki sent a fly ball over the left field fence to give the Nationals a 3-0 lead. It was Suzuki’s eighth home run on the year. As the Nationals twitter account pointed out, it was Suzuki’s fifth home run against the Phillies in 2019:

The Phillies wouldn’t go down without a fight, however.

In the top of the fourth, with one out, Cesar Hernandez and Maikel Franco were able to collect back-to-back singles, giving the Phillies a runner in scoring position. Batting leadoff for the first time in 2019, Bryce Harper delivered against his former team, hitting an RBI single that scored Hernandez. That cut the Nationals lead to 3-1. After a Rhys Hoskins walk to load up the bases, Jay Bruce delivered an RBI single that was able to score Franco. Harper was thrown out at home, however, leaving the game at 3-2.

But thanks to a certain shortstop, it then became a whole new ballgame.

Jean Segura would tie up the game at three apiece in the top of the fifth with a solo home run to center field. It went 405 feet, and it was his seventh home run of the season:

It wouldn’t stay a tie game for long, however.

In the bottom of the sixth, Rendon crushed his 17th home run of the season, a solo shot that gave the Nationals the lead once again. Washington wouldn’t stop there, however. Later in the inning, with two men on, Victor Robles hit his 10th home run, giving the Nationals a commanding 7-3 edge:

The Phillies were unable to do much more damage after that. The only run the Phillies scored after the Nationals four-run outburst in the sixth game courtesy of Jay Bruce, whose solo home run in the seventh made the game 7-4:

While this was Bruce’s 20th home run, it was also the final run that the Phillies would score, as they lost by a 7-4 score.

With the loss, the Phillies have now dropped two straight series against division rivals, and are slowly dropping further and further away from first place in the National League East. They’ll look to rebound against the Miami Marlins on Friday.

Shibe Vintage Sports Pitching Performance:

Erick Fedde lasted just 3.2 innings against the Phillies, giving up five hits, two runs (both earned) and an eye-popping five walks. He struck out just one batter and threw 84 pitches, with just 43 going for strikes.
Nick Pivetta didn’t fare much better than his counterpart in this game. In 6.1 innings pitched, Pivetta gave up six earned runs, while allowing seven hits and three walks. He struck out two batters and threw 92 pitches.

Phillies Nuggets Player of the Game: Victor Robles

The young outfielder sealed up the victory for the Washington Nationals with his three-run home in the sixth inning. On the night, Robles was two for three with a home run, three RBIs, and a walk and run scored.