Instant Analysis: Nats 13, Phillies 2

The Nationals are 2 games over .500 for the first time in five seasons, after jumping out to a big lead in Philly and watching Foster Griffin take care of the rest

Photo by Saúl Martinez / NATS JOURNAL

PHILADELPHIA – Was a weekend series win at Wrigley Field a fluke? Maybe not, because the Nationals showed up to Citizens Bank Park tonight and absolutely took it to the Phillies from the start. They scored four runs in the first, another in the second and two more in the third to open up a 7-0 lead that had the Citizens Bank Park faithful booing to their hearts’ content. And then never looked back en route to their third win of the season, one that puts them two games over .500 for the first time since June 30, 2021, when Trea Turner broke his finger while hitting for the cycle.

Before the second inning was over, every member of he Nats lineup had either recorded a hit or driven in a run. The early offensive explosion was defined not by big blasts but by perfectly placed contact. None of the team’s first nine hits (eight singles and a double) included an exit velocity greater than 91 mph. But each one somehow found a hole, or found a Phillies defender who couldn’t make a clean play, leaving the crowd of 35,609 apoplectic.

Foster Griffin took full advantage of all that run support in his first-ever major-league start. Taking the mound with a 4-0 lead in hand, the 30-year-old lefty used his deep repertoire with aplomb, carrying a shutout into the fifth before he finally allowed a run. He finished with five innings of two-run ball on 86 pitches, then handed it over to the Nationals bullpen, which took care of the rest and secured the latest emphatic win for this plucky, young bunch.

HITTING HIGHLIGHT: Another day, another Joey Wiemer highlight. He entered the game a perfect 6-for-6 with two walks to begin the season. And when he legged out an infield single in the top of the first – he was originally ruled out, but then safe after the Nationals challenged the call – and sent a soft line-drive single to center in the third, Wiemer had officially tied Carlos Delgado for the majors’ longest streak of consecutive plate appearances reaching base to begin a season since 1951 with 10. Nothing lasts forever, of course. And inevitably, Wiemer made an out at last in his third at-bat of the night when he grounded back to the mound.

PITCHING HIGHLIGHT: How would Griffin’s success from Japan translate now that he’s back in the majors? Based on his first start, it appears to have translated very well. The 30-year-old lefty was in complete control through most of his five-inning appearance, using seven different pitches to keep the Phillies off-balance. He struck out each of the big three ex-Nats at the top of the lineup, getting Trea Turner with a changeup, Kyle Schwarber with a cutter and Bryce Harper with a splitter. When it came time to make his biggest pitch of the night, Griffin turned to the one he has the most confidence in: the cutter. After giving up a two-run homer to Rafael Marchán on a high fastball, the lefty faced two on and two out in the fifth, with Harper at the plate. Bryce battled through a seven-pitch at-bat, nearly homering on a 2-2 splitter but hooking it foul. Finally, Griffin got him to ground out on a 3-2 cutter in on the hands, finishing off a really solid first major-league start.

NOTABLE: Remember how many times the Nationals botched the first-and-third, double-steal attempt last year? Well, they pulled it off to perfection tonight when Jorbit Vivas broke from first and got himself into a rundown, staying alive long enough to give José Tena time to score from third. Just another example of some real fundamental improvement to begin this season.

UP NEXT: Game 2 of the series will see the Phillies send top prospect Andrew Painter to the mound for his long-awaited MLB debut. The Nats haven’t announced their starter yet, and it’s possible they’ll be using an opener before bringing in veteran Zack Littell out of the bullpen in his club debut. TV: Nationals TV RADIO: 106.7 FM