Despite the Washington Nationals (4-5) being on the wrong end of a 4-3 final score against the Philadelphia Phillies (7-2) Monday night, there were signs of improvement for the struggling Nats.
Anibal Sanchez took the mound for the Nationals, pitching 5 2/3 innings while striking out six. Giving up seven hits and three runs, Sanchez threw two mistakes that were taken out of the park, an Odubel Herrera homer in the fourth and a Rhys Hoskins shot in the sixth.
The Nationals’ bullpen finally stepped up their game Monday, allowing only one run in 2 1/3 innings of relief. What would turn out to be the game-winning run came off of Justin Miller in the eighth, who gave up Rhys Hoskins’ second homer of the game.
Offensively, several Nationals had encouraging performances. Kurt Suzuki had two hits, including a two-run long ball in the second inning off of Phillies’ starter, Vince Velasquez. Brian Dozier hit his first home run as a Nat, a ninth inning bullet off of Pat Neshak that brought Washington to within one run. Anthony Rendon followed up with a double, but the Nats failed to bring him across the plate.
Tuesday night, the Nationals will send Stephen Strasburg (1-0) to the mound to face Philadelphia’s Aaron Nola (1-0). The pitching matchup promises to be another good one between the rivals.
