Instant Analysis: Phillies 6, Nats 3
Abimelec Ortiz and Daylen Lile staked the Nationals to an early lead, but the bullpen gave it all back to Philadelphia in all-too-familiar fashion
PHILADELPHIA – An emotional day after an emotional week ended in an agonizing (if all-too-familiar) manner for the Nationals: A pair of relievers giving up game-changing home runs to the Phillies. Specifically, Derek Hill and Bryce Harper.
Hill, the part-time outfielder who already played a major role in one of the Phillies’ three straight comebacks at Nationals Park earlier this summer, launched a grand slam off Tom Cosgrove in the bottom of the seventh tonight, turning a 3-0 Nats lead into a 4-3 deficit. Harper, the former D.C. star-turned-opposing heel, then added a two-run homer off Clayton Beeter in the eighth to extend the lead.
Already demoralized from this afternoon’s trade of All-Star left-hander Foster Griffin to the Guardians – not to mention the prior trades of Luis García Jr. and Curtis Mead – the Nationals nevertheless stormed out of the gates to take an early lead the same way they’ve done so often this year: With power. New first baseman Abimelec Ortiz crushed an Aaron Nola curveball for his first career home run in the top of the first. One inning later, Daylen Lile also took Nola deep, this one a two-run shot to give the Nats a 3-0 lead.
Andrew Alvarez, summoned from Triple-A Rochester for a spot start one week after he had been demoted, then turned in perhaps the best outing of his brief career. The rookie left-hander stared down the Phillies’ star-studded lineup and carried a shutout in to the seventh.
Adding to the drama: Blake Butera was ejected for the first time as a big-league manager after arguing a potential obstruction call while Nasim Nuñez was trying to escape a rundown in the top of the seventh. Bench coach Michael Johns found himself managing the final three innings of a tight game, choosing when to pull Alvarez after a hit-by-pitch and walk in the bottom of the seventh.
That proved to be the critical juncture of the game. Cosgrove entered from the bullpen to replace Alvarez and walked Edmundo Sosa on five pitches, loading the bases. And when he grooved an 0-1 sweeper to Hill, the lefty reliever could only watch in horror as the game flipped on one swing. Harper then added his insurance homer one inning later off Beeter.
Johns also oversaw the eighth-inning removal of right fielder James Wood from the game. Wood, who didn’t look great running down the line in his previous at-bat, was replaced by Dylan Crews.
HITTING HIGHLIGHT: Thrust into the No. 2 spot in the lineup and asked to adequately replace the NL’s leader in slugging percentage this season, Ortiz calmly stepped to the plate in the top of the first tonight and did his best García impersonation. He blasted Nola’s 3-2 curveball to right for a quick 1-0 lead and circled the bases with a wide smile following his first career MLB home run. The 24-year-old first baseman is going to be given the chance to start against right-handers in García’s place. If he can continue to provide that kind of power, he’ll continue to get chances the rest of the season.
PITCHING HIGHLIGHT: The Nationals decided to call up Alvarez for this start in order to give others in the rotation an extra day of rest and (admittedly) to protect themselves against the possibility of a trade that would throw things out of whack. The left-hander proceeded to put forth his best performance of the season. Attacking hitters more than he did in some previous starts when he tended to nibble around the zone, Alvarez was remarkably efficient, completing his first six innings on only 68 pitches. He got the first out of the seventh and appeared to be cruising, but then he drilled Bryan De La Cruz with a pitch and followed that up with a walk of Bryson Stott, bringing an abrupt halt to his evening. It may have ended on a sour note, but it nevertheless was a highly encouraging start for Alvarez, whether he’s back for good or destined to return to Rochester.
NOTABLE: CJ Abrams was named NL Player of the Month for July earlier today. The All-Star shortstop hit .348 with five doubles, 10 homers, 23 RBI, 11 walks, six stolen bases, 17 runs scored, a .742 slugging percentage and 1.149 OPS in 23 games played for the month.
UP NEXT: Zack Littell (or an opener) will be on the mound for the start of Tuesday’s 6:40 p.m. game here at Citizens Bank Park. Left-hander Jesus Luzardo gets the ball for the Phillies. TV: Nationals TV RADIO: 106.7 FM
Think I need a break from these games for a few days
My mood is foul. I think we're in a legit downward spiral.
Have we lost 6 straight in '26?