Nats Take Two of Three at Philly
Nats finish productive road trip 6-3. The Washington Nationals finished up a very productive and encouraging road trip by going 6-3 and winning all three series. The Nats continued to bounce back strong after bad or heartbreaking losses in immediately preceding games. They also avenged a series loss to the Phillies in early June. The Nationals subsequently evened the season series against their archrivals at three games apiece.
GAME 1: NATIONALS 2, Phillies 1
Josiah Gray solidified his spot on the National League All-Star roster with this performance. Gray pitched his sixth quality start, allowing one run in six innings and struck out eight. He allowed six hits and one walk. Gray picked off Alex Bohm after Philadelphia scored their only run of the game in the second inning. Gray also evened his record at 6-6 and lowered his ERA to 3.30. Mason Thompson and Kyle Finnegan (4 outs) held the game for Washington. Hunter Harvey (3.25 ERA) struck out two in the ninth and earned his seventh save.
Stone Garrett homered and doubled in a run to provide all the Nats offense in this tight low scoring game. Dominic Smith had three hits for the Nationals.
Gray is the Nats lone representative on the NL All-Star roster
GAME 2: PHILLIES 19, Nationals 4
MacKenzie Gore (L, 4-7, 4.48 ERA) and the “second string” relievers’ outing qualified as discouraging in game two. Gore simply didn’t have it and got pummeled for seven runs on six hits in 2.2 innings. Manager Davey Martinez lifted him after Gore developed a blister on the middle finger of his left/throwing hand. The next three Nats relievers gave up four runs each. (Amos Willingham, Joe La Sorsa, and Thad Ward).
At the plate not much to say for the Nats. Dom Smith hit his fourth home run early in the game. Lane Thomas got a couple of knocks to keep his average above .300 (.303).
GAME 3: NATIONALS 5, Phillies 4
The Nats continued an encouraging trend of shaking off bad losses the next day. The Phils got three runs off DC starter and winner Trevor Williams (5-4). But Stone Garrett’s second grand slam of the season put the Nationals on top, 4-3. Jeimer Candelario (1-3, 2R) hit a solo shot in the fifth. And the Nats bullpen held on and locked down the third straight road series victory.
The Nats infield, consisting of subs up the middle in Ildemaro Vargas (SS) and Michael Chavis (2B), turned three critical double plays late in the game to help squelch Philly rallies.
Williams logged five innings and didn’t allow another run after the first. Jose Ferrer, Mason Thompson, and Kyle Finnegan each earned key holds. Hunter Harvey got his eighth save and lowered his ERA to 3.16. Finnegan retired five batters leading up to the ninth inning.
LATEST TRANSACTIONS
- 07/01/23 Signed free agent RHP Patrick Ruotolo to a minor league contract.
- 07/01/23 Signed RHP Dakota Donovan.
- 06/30/23 Placed LHP Patrick Corbin on the bereavement list.
- 06/30/23 Recalled LHP Jose A. Ferrer from Rochester Red Wings.
- 06/26/23 Released RHP Chad Kuhl.
- 06/26/23 Optioned RHP Paolo Espino to Rochester Red Wings.
The Nats’ record improved to 34-49. The Nats are 21-22 away from home. But are 14 games under .500 at home and 11-30 vs teams with winning records. Uh oh…
Up Next for the DC9: Infielder Elly De La Cruz and the red-hot Cincinnati Red Legs come to town. The Reds are in a tie for first place in the NL Central with the Milwaukee Brewers (45-39). Cincy is coming off two straight series victories – at the Baltimore Orioles and vs the San Diego Padres, respectively.
