Final Score: Phillies 12, Nationals 6
The Nationals and Phillies are two teams with similar problems. Both are top heavy. Both lack a promising farm system. Both came into the season with high expectations only to be falling short two months in.
Both teams also struggle to get out of their own way. A costly fielding error from Jordy Mercy gave way to a seven-run fourth inning for the Phillies. Two runs came in on two bases loaded walks.
Alec Bohm was the recipient of one of those free passes. He had perhaps one of the best at-bats of his season so far. He fouled off four pitches, including three with two strikes and two that were in on his hands. He rightfully showed some emotion when ball four landed in Alex Avila’s glove.
Odúbel Herrera also doubled in his second at-bat of the inning. He ended the game with two doubles to his name. J.T. Realmuto walked twice in the inning and hit his 100th career home run in the seventh. Only three of the seven runs that the Nationals bullpen surrendered in the fourth were earned. Sunday marked the first time the Phillies have won back-to-back games since May 11-12 against the Washington Nationals in D.C.
The game was delayed for 20 minutes after the protective netting in foul territory collapsed following a Trea Turner foul ball. It has to be the most bizarre moment in a season which includes a lineup card miscue, a heated bench argument mid-game between a manager and player and a slew of horrendous mistakes and crushing defeats.
Outside of a bad throw from Realmuto, the Phillies had a relatively clean game defensively. That doesn’t mean today was a problem-free game. Vince Velasquez only lasted four innings and veteran reliever Brandon Kintzler had another poor outing. The team could be running out of patience with the 35-year-old, who made the team as a non-roster invitee and is being paid three million in 2021 with the expectation that he will be relied on to pitch important innings late in games.
Prior to today’s game, the Phillies reinstated right-handed pitcher Héctor Neris off the paternity list. Left-handed pitcher Cristopher Sánchez was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley and right handers David Hale and Chase Anderson were placed on the COVID-19 IL. Sánchez made his MLB debut in the eighth and pitched an inning and a third. Unfortunately for Sánchez, he’ll always be remembered as having one of the strangest MLB debuts in the history of the sport.
The Phillies have a much-needed off day Monday and will return to action Tuesday against the Atlanta Braves. Aaron Nola is scheduled to pitch game one.
Top Plays
Shibe Vintage Sports Starting Pitching Performance
Austin Voth: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO, 24 pitches
The Nationals planned on having a bullpen game Sunday afternoon, with Voth pitching around three innings as part of the plan. He had to leave the game after his at-bat in the third after getting hit the face with a fastball. In two innings of work, Voth faced four batters and only allowed a walk.
Vince Velasquez: 4 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO, 80 pitches
Velasquez does deserve credit for limiting the damage in the third inning to only one run. At the same time, he was the sole reason why he was in trouble in the first place. He lost his command to the bottom of the Nationals order. His lack of control had scary consequences as Voth had to leave the game after taking a fastball to the face. He was at his best when he stuck to the fastball and threw it by hitters in the first. The Phillies need him to sustain that through multiple innings as the season moves along.
Phillies Nuggets Player of the Game: The Grounds Crew
We could give this honor to Realmuto for hitting his 100th home run. Or Miller for driving a ball into the second deck. But somehow, the netting collapsed in the later stages of an excruciatingly long game and the grounds crew came together to get it back up. All of them deserve a cold beer and a raise.
Ticket IQ Next Game