One last insult to wrap up a miserable series
The Nationals' third straight bullpen implosion was capped by Bryce Harper's game-winning homer and gesture toward the vulgar "Tarps Off" crew
Never before had a 5-0 lead against one of the best pitchers in baseball, combined with a top-notch performance from their own starter, felt less comforting.
Admit it, you never actually believed the Nationals were going to make that five-run lead hold up against the Phillies, did you? Not after seeing them blow another five-run lead two nights earlier, then blow another ninth-inning lead the previous night.
This felt like a foregone conclusion, and that’s what made the end result – Phillies 10, Nats 5 – feel like less of a gut punch and more like a stomp to the head from the division bully who knew all along he’d get the best of you.
The three relievers who gave up eight runs in this game – Mitchell Parker, Clayton Beeter, Gus Varland – looked like they’d rather be anywhere than the mound at Nationals Park facing that lineup in high-leverage situations. How else do you explain four walks in the span of five batters in the seventh (including a four-pitch free pass with the bases loaded) and then a meatball of a changeup to Bryce Harper in the ninth that not only gave Philadelphia the lead for good but prompted Harper to “salute” the group of young fans that had been taunting him all week as only he can.
Does Blake Butera worry his relievers are now pitching scared?
“That’s what it looks like, yeah,” the manager conceded.
