Nationals Rally To Beat Phillies 8-6
The Washington Nationals ended an 8 game homestand Sunday night trying to avoid a sweep at the hands of the Philadelphia Phillies. What ensued was nothing short of unforgettable.
Rookie Jefry Rodriguez took the mound for his second start of his big league career. Rodriguez held the Phillies scoreless through the first two innings of the game. However in the third, Phillies starting pitcher Nick Pivetta got on base via a single, and Rhys Hoskins drove them both in with a two run home run to give the Phillies a 2-0 lead. The Nationals would score two of their own in the fourth inning on a solo home run by Anthony Rendon and a single from Michael A Taylor to tie the game at 2-2 as the rain fell and caused a delay. After the delay, the Phillies exploded for four runs in the fifth inning on a triple from Odubel Herrera and a two run home run by Nick Williams to give Philadelphia a 6-2 lead. The Nationals however were far from finished. Washington answered with three runs in the sixth inning on a triple from Trea Turner and doubles from Bryce Harper-who racked up three consecutive hits in this game-and Anthony Rendon to draw the Nationals to within a run at 6-5. This would remain the score with two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth inning with Daniel Murphy at the plate. Murphy plated a go-ahead two run single to give the Nationals a 7-6 lead. Michael A Taylor added on an insurance run with a single of his own and Sean Doolittle shut the door with a 1-2-3 ninth inning to secure an 8-6 victory for Washington. The win improves the Nationals to 41-35 on the season and 12-13 in division play as Washington concludes the homestand with a record of 4-4.
Nationals will head to Tampa Bay to face the Rays in a brief two game series this week.
