CJ Abrams Powers Six-Run 11th as Nationals Stun Phillies, 10-4
By Brian Hradsky | Maryland Sports Blog
The Washington Nationals finally broke through when it mattered most.
CJ Abrams delivered a go-ahead two-run triple during a six-run 11th inning as the Nationals defeated the Philadelphia Phillies, 10-4, Wednesday night at Citizens Bank Park.
Washington entered the night riding a seven-game losing streak and had dropped the first two games of the series. The Nationals appeared headed toward another frustrating defeat several times, but they repeatedly responded before overwhelming the Phillies in the second extra inning.
Abrams finished 3-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored. Brady House hit a game-tying pinch-hit home run, while Nasim Nuñez and Andrés Chaparro each drove in two runs for Washington.
The victory improved the Nationals to 56-60 and snapped their longest losing streak of the season. Philadelphia fell to 61-54 after having its four-game winning streak ended.
Nationals Strike First
Washington immediately pressured Phillies starter Andrew Painter.
Abrams was hit by a pitch to begin the game and stole second base. The Nationals eventually put runners at the corners before Keibert Ruiz lined an RBI single to give Washington a 1-0 lead.
The Nationals had an opportunity to build a larger advantage but could not fully capitalize. That became an early concern for a lineup that entered the game struggling badly with runners in scoring position.
Philadelphia answered in the second inning.
Luis Arraez, playing his second game since joining the Phillies, drove a Jake Irvin sinker off the right-field foul pole for a solo home run. It was Arraez’s fifth homer of the season and his first with Philadelphia.
The Phillies later loaded the bases before Justin Crawford lifted a sacrifice fly, giving Philadelphia a 2-1 advantage.
Irvin Keeps Washington Close
Irvin recovered after Philadelphia’s two-run second inning and prevented the Phillies from extending their lead.
The right-hander completed 5 2/3 innings and allowed two runs. Outside of Arraez’s home run, Irvin generally avoided hard contact and gave Washington a chance to remain within striking distance.
Will Dion replaced Irvin with one out remaining in the sixth and escaped the inning by inducing a double play.
Painter was also effective for Philadelphia, limiting Washington to one run on three hits over four innings. He struck out four and walked one but did not return for the fifth because of left hamstring tightness.
Tim Mayza and Orion Kerkering combined to protect Philadelphia’s 2-1 advantage through the sixth inning.
House Changes the Game
Phillies reliever Brooks Raley made his team debut in the seventh and quickly retired the first two hitters he faced.
Washington then turned to House as a pinch hitter.
House drove a hanging sweeper over the right-center-field wall for a solo home run, tying the game at 2. It was his eighth homer of the season and the first pinch-hit home run of his major league career.
Jacob Young followed by driving a double off the outfield wall. Abrams then grounded a single through the left side, scoring Young and giving the Nationals a 3-2 lead.
The hit ended a prolonged stretch of offensive frustration for Washington and represented the type of two-out production the Nationals had lacked during their losing streak.
Abrams’ seventh-inning single was only the beginning of his impact.
Phillies Answer in Bottom of Seventh
The Nationals could not hold their first late-inning lead.
Yovanny Cruz replaced Dion to begin the bottom of the seventh but struggled with his command. Alec Bohm worked a walk before Brandon Marsh reached on a softly hit ball that bounced through the middle of the infield.
Bryson Stott then singled into center field, scoring Bohm and tying the game at 3.
Washington brought in Tom Cosgrove, who prevented Philadelphia from retaking the lead. Kyle Schwarber was hit by a pitch to load the bases with two outs, but Trea Turner flew out to end the inning.
The missed opportunity became one of Philadelphia’s most costly moments of the night.
Jonathan Bowlan, Jhoan Duran, Cosgrove and Orlando Ribalta kept the game tied through nine innings.
Nationals Take Lead in 10th
Philadelphia turned to José Alvarado for the top of the 10th.
Andrew Pinckney, making his major league debut as a pinch runner, began the inning at second base. Washington eventually loaded the bases through a hit batter and a walk.
Alvarado then walked Nuñez with two outs, forcing home the go-ahead run and giving Washington a 4-3 advantage.
The Nationals handed the lead to Clayton Beeter in the bottom half.
Derek Hill began the inning at second and immediately stole third. Schwarber struck out before Turner lined a ball into right field.
Dylan Crews made a diving catch, preventing a potential extra-base hit, but Hill scored on the sacrifice fly to tie the game at 4.
Bryce Harper then walked but was thrown out attempting to steal second, sending the game into the 11th. Harper appeared to hurt his right hand on the slide but remained in the game.
Abrams Ignites Six-Run Outburst
Washington finally took control in the 11th.
With two runners aboard, Abrams drove a ball deep to center field. Hill attempted to make the catch near the wall but collided with the fence.
The ball stayed in play, allowing two runs to score as Abrams raced into third with a go-ahead triple. Hill left the game after the collision but was able to walk off the field.
Abrams’ triple gave Washington a 6-4 lead and broke the game open.
The Nationals then faced an unusual situation after losing the designated hitter earlier in the game. With the pitcher’s spot due and Washington’s bench exhausted, manager Blake Butera called on veteran pitcher Miles Mikolas as a pinch hitter.
Mikolas, who had not recorded a plate appearance since 2021, dropped a bunt toward first base. Abrams raced home and scored, giving Mikolas an RBI and extending the Nationals’ lead to 7-4.
Washington continued attacking Philadelphia’s bullpen.
Nuñez and Chaparro helped produce additional runs as the Nationals sent 10 hitters to the plate and scored six times in the inning. Abrams’ two-run triple sparked the rally, while Washington turned a close extra-inning game into a six-run victory.
Lord Finishes the Win
Brad Lord returned from the injured list to pitch the bottom of the 11th.
The right-hander retired Philadelphia in order, completing Washington’s first victory since July 28.
The Nationals’ bullpen endured several tense moments but gave the offense enough opportunities to recover. Dion, Cosgrove, Ribalta and Lord were particularly important in limiting the Phillies during the middle and late innings.
Philadelphia finished with only five hits. Arraez’s home run was the Phillies’ lone extra-base hit.
Abrams Leads Short-Handed Lineup
Abrams carried a Washington offense playing without injured All-Star outfielder James Wood and recently traded infielder Luis García Jr.
The Nationals shortstop reached base four times, collected three hits and produced the two biggest swings of the game.
His seventh-inning RBI single gave Washington its first lead since the opening inning. His 11th-inning triple permanently shifted the game in the Nationals’ favor.
House also provided an important contribution off the bench. The young third baseman entered during a critical situation and immediately delivered a game-tying home run.
Washington had struggled to produce timely hits throughout the road trip. Wednesday’s comeback included several, with Young, House, Abrams, Nuñez and Chaparro all contributing.
Maryland Sports Blog’s Take
The Nationals desperately needed something positive, and Wednesday’s victory provided much more than an ordinary win.
Washington could have folded after surrendering the lead in the seventh. The Nationals could have unraveled again when Philadelphia tied the game in the 10th. Instead, they kept battling until Abrams finally broke the game open.
Abrams looked like the centerpiece Washington needs him to become. With Wood injured and García traded, the Nationals’ lineup lacks established impact hitters. Abrams responded by delivering three hits, making a key defensive play and driving in the runs that decided the game.
House’s pinch-hit home run was another encouraging sign. The Nationals need their young position players to seize opportunities throughout the remainder of the season. House did exactly that against Raley.
The strangest and most memorable moment belonged to Mikolas. Washington had no available position players, forcing the veteran pitcher into the batter’s box. His perfectly placed bunt scored Abrams and added another chapter to one of the Nationals’ wildest victories of the year.
There were still areas of concern. Washington missed early opportunities, lost a seventh-inning lead and required extra innings after failing to protect an advantage in the 10th.
However, teams caught in long losing streaks rarely earn clean, uncomplicated victories. Sometimes they need a strange play, an unlikely hero or one overwhelming inning to escape.
The Nationals received all three Wednesday.
Abrams was the star, Mikolas became the unexpected hero and Washington’s six-run 11th finally ended seven games of frustration.
Final: Washington Nationals 10, Philadelphia Phillies 4 — 11 innings
