Categories: 2024 Postgame Recaps

‘A testament to perseverance’: Weston Wilson hits for cycle as Phillies rout Nationals

Weston Wilson hit for the cycle Thursday. (Grace Del Pizzo/Phillies Nation)

Final Score: Phillies 13, Nationals 3

Weston Wilson became the first Phillie to hit for the cycle at Citizens Bank Park since David Bell in June of 2004, as Philadelphia routed the Washington Nationals in the first game of a four-game weekend set at Citizens Bank Park.

When Wilson stepped to the plate in the bottom of the eighth inning, he was well aware that he needed only a double to complete the cycle, in part because Bryce Harper made sure he knew.

“I was aware because Harper was at the top step letting me know,” Wilson said with a smile. “Hey, if you hit it, keep running. Don’t stop until second. So, I knew about it.”

Hitting for the cycle is a remarkable accomplishment for anyone, but particularly Wilson who didn’t make his MLB debut until his age-28 season and struggled when he opened this year at Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

“I think it’s a testament to perseverance — staying with everything,” Wilson said of his long climb to this moment. “It hasn’t been easy but last year against them actually was my first game. So to have that moment last year and then this one has been really cool.”

Meanwhile, Zack Wheeler continues to loom near the top of the NL Cy Young Award race, as he limited the Nationals to three hits and two runs — only one of which was earned — over six innings, while striking out six. On the season, Wheeler is now 12-5 with a 2.78 ERA, 3.43 FIP and 3.6 WAR over 148 2/3 innings pitched.

Wheeler was very complimentary of Wilson after the game.

“It’s awesome,” Wheeler said. “Wilson’s an awesome guy. He’s one of the nicest guys in the game, I feel like. And he’s a great player. He’s just trying to show who he is. It’s a great night for him and his family.”

With their second win in a row, the Phillies improve to 71-50, giving them a half game edge over the 71-51 Los Angeles Dodgers for the best record in the NL.

Highlights

After Bryce Harper followed a Trea Turner infield single with a base hit of his own, Bohm gave the Phillies an early 3-0 lead with a 403-foot shot:

Castellanos followed Bohm’s shot with a solo home run of his own:

After Weston Wilson tripled to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning, Johan Rojas plated him with a single.

Turner continued the fun for the Phillies with a two-run double that scored both Rojas and Kyle Schwarber.

Aggressive baserunning from Harper allowed Turner to score on a single where he was originally held at third base:

Before the inning was out Castellanos drove in Harper with a single, capping off a five-run inning.

Keibert Ruiz got the Nationals on the board with a solo home run off of Zack Wheeler in the top of the fifth:

Nationals rookie James Wood drove in Jacob Young on an RBI groundout against Wheeler in the top of the sixth inning.

Speaking of Young, he made an insane catch to rob Bohm of extra bases in the home half of the sixth:

Ruiz added his second solo home run of the night in the top of the seventh inning, this one off of Orion Kerkering.

Wilson continued his big night in the bottom of the seventh inning, as he tagged Tanner Rainey for an opposite-field home run:

Young misread a ball off the bat of Harper in the bottom of the seventh inning, dropping it and allowing Schwarber to score.

Wilson completed his quest for a cycle by doubling in the bottom of the eighth inning. He and J.T. Realmuto — the last Phillie to hit for the cycle before tonight — eventually scored on an RBI single from Rojas: