Categories: 2023 Postgame Recaps

Michael Lorenzen struggles in first start after no-hitter

Michael Lorenzen was the losing pitcher in the Phillies’ 8-7 defeat to the Washington Nationals. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Final Score: Nationals 8, Phillies 7

WASHINGTON — After dazzling the Nationals and throwing the 14th no-hitter in Philadelphia Phillies history, Michael Lorenzen came back to Earth.

The Phillies scored six to knock out Nationals starter Joan Adon after four, but Washington returned the favor by putting up six and retaking the lead.

The rally began when a deep fly ball to center field dropped in and out of the glove of Johan Rojas. The Phillies center fielder initially came in on the ball and quickly trekked to the left center field wall. He was on time for the ball, but his initial instinct to move in probably didn’t help him on the play. Regardless, it’s a ball Rojas, and just about any center fielder in the big leagues, should have gotten.

Dominic Smith, who reached second on the error, was the first of six straight Nationals base runners to reach safely. After allowing three singles and a walk, Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams sent Lorenzen to the showers with a three-run shot to right field that gave Washington a 7-6 lead.

After allowing five earned runs over his last six starts combined, Lorenzen allowed seven runs (six earned) over just 3 1/3 innings. It was his shortest start so far this season.

“I wasn’t in sync at all, just having to think about the pitches that I’m trying to make way too much,” a visibly frustrated Lorenzen said after the game. “I didn’t think I had good anything today. Just get to work between this start and next one and figure it out.”

The Phillies’ best chance to retake the lead came in the top of the seventh. With two outs and the bases loaded, former National Trea Turner was due up against right-hander Andres Machado.

The Nationals Park crowd, which mostly consisted of Phillies fans, was on their feet and cheering Turner. It was loud enough that Machado had to stop and readjust the volume on his PitchCom device.

It was Turner’s moment to shine once again, but the Phillies shortstop struck out swinging on just four pitches.

After a red-hot homestand, Turner has just one hit on the roadtrip. Nick Castellanos, who was hitless in five at-bats, struck out earlier in the seventh with two on and one out against Machado.

It was a sloppy night on defense for the Phillies. The second biggest misplay of the night was fortunately negated in the second. Ildemaro Vargas laid down a bunt with a runner on first. Lorenzen and Bohm both went for the ball and Lorenzen fired an easy strike to Harper at first.

With Bohm off the base and nobody covering third, the runner Jake Alu took off for third. Catcher J.T. Realmuto hustled down the line to cover third. Harper’s throw across the diamond was too early and the ball landed on the tarp down the line.

But home plate umpire Jim Wolf ruled the play dead. Vargas’ foot was on the plate as the ball made contact with the bat. According to Rule 6.03(a)1, that’s considered an illegal action. Vargas was ruled out, Alu was sent back to first base and the run was taken off the board.

Kyle Schwarber homered twice, including once in the ninth inning to cut the deficit to 8-7. The Phillies went down 1-2-3 following the ninth inning home run. Schwarber now has 32 home runs on the season.

“Even though they had the big inning, we still felt pretty confident in ourselves to go out there and put up some run. Unfortunately, we didn’t,” Schwarber said. “I don’t think there was any panic from us when we were in that spot. We knew what we were up against and we just had to keep going up there and it just didn’t work out for us.”

The Phillies, after blowing their third five-run lead of the year, fall to 66-56.

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