Instant Analysis: Nats 4, Phillies 1
Behind 7 1/3 innings from Foster Griffin and clutch hits from Dylan Crews, Luis García Jr. and Curtis Mead, the Nationals won the opener of a big series
It’s been a long time since the Nationals faced the Phillies in truly meaningful game for both teams. The way they played in tonight’s highly anticipated series opener, they might just want to make this into a regular thing.
Behind a dominant start from Foster Griffin and home runs from Luis García Jr. and Curtis Mead, the Nats took the rain-delayed opener from their division rivals and moved to within 1 1/2 games of them in the NL wild card race.
Griffin tossed 7 1/3 innings of one-run ball, his lone blemish a solo homer by Brandon Marsh in the seventh. The left-hander improved to 8-2 with a 3.15 ERA and matched his season-high with nine strikeouts.
The Nationals lineup supported their starter with a couple of early runs supplied by Dylan Crews (RBI single in the first) and García (solo homer in the second). Mead, who was originally signed by the Phillies out of Australia, then added a two-run blast in the seventh for some added cushion.
Richard Lovelady replaced Griffin and finished the eighth with back-to-back strikeouts of Trea Turner and Kyle Schwarber. Clayton Beeter then pitched the ninth for the save.
HITTING HIGHLIGHT: García’s second-inning homer capped off what might have been the most García at-bat ever. The fourth pitch of the at-bat was a changeup about a foot above the zone, which García fouled off. The fifth pitch of the at-bat was a changeup about a foot below the zone, which García fouled off. The sixth pitch of the at-bat was a changeup right down Broadway, and García proceeded to launch it 427 feet to right-center for his 11th home run of the season. He remains one of the free-est swingers you’ll ever see, but his ability to at least foul off those errant pitches gives him a chance to take advantage of an actual hittable pitch.
PITCHING HIGHLIGHT: If you were wondering how Griffin would fare in his second crack at the Phillies lineup this season, the answer is: Exceptionally well. The left-hander made his season debut at Citizens Bank Park way back on May 30 and allowed just two runs over five innings. He stepped it up in tonight’s rematch, carrying a shutout into the seventh before allowing Marsh’s solo homer. Along the way, Griffin had Philly’s hitters chasing pitches all over the place. He opened his night striking out both Trea Turner and Kyle Schwarber and never looked back, finishing with nine strikeouts to match his season-high. Despite the high K rate, he also managed to keep his pitch count manageable, issuing zero walks and thus completing seven innings on 99 pitches (a whopping 70 of them strikes). So, Blake Butera let him take the mound again for the eighth and face one more batter before exiting to a nice ovation from the crowd. Griffin has now reached the halfway point of his season the proud owner of a 3.15 ERA and 1.062 WHIP.
NOTABLE: Nasim Nuñez is batting .426 (20-for-47) over his last 14 games.
UP NEXT: There’s again rain in the forecast Tuesday, but it’s supposed to clear out in time for first pitch at 6:45 p.m. It’ll be Zack Littell (or potentially an opener) against lefty Jesus Luzardo. TV: Nationals TV RADIO: 106.7 FM
Foster Griffin, have a night man. I honestly would’ve let him have the rest of that inning he was that awesome tonight. Only one true mistake pitch to Marsh, but other than that that was amazing.
And methinks Dylan is starting to really figure it out. However, he and Mead were absolutely ROBBED in that eighth inning.
Extend Griffin. All this talk of needing major league ready pitching. You have a developed, reborn vet right there.
Hope the Phils liked seeing Dylan Crews ball out, he’s hopefully going to be a pain in their neck for a while