The Washington Nationals fell in the final meeting and saw their five game win streak denied on Wednesday night, along with another Triple A demotion
The win streak has come to an end for the Washington Nationals.
In the final meeting against the Philadelphia Phillies in a game featuring nine hits between the two teams, the Nationals fell, 3-0, to split the two game series at Nationals Park.
Daylen Lile followed up his walk off night with a 2-for-4 performance, the lone National to record a multi-hit game, as Dylan Crews and CJ Abrams were the only others to safely hit in Wednesday's loss.
Jared Simpson drew the loss after allowing two earned runs and a hit in the opening inning, while the rest of the bullpen tossed seven strikeouts with one earned run and four hits the rest of the way. Yet that only tells part of the tale after the Nationals tied a franchise record after the Nationals' pitchers combined to toss 13 walks in the loss.
After forcing an out from leadoff batter Kyle Schwarber, Simpson walked the four of the next five batters faced with the other driving in an RBI single to put the Nationals down 2-0 the rest of the way. Manager Blake Butera then turned to Riley Cornelio to get out of the jam where he took down the next two batters faced.
The Phillies added their third and final run in the seven inning with Richard Lovelady on the mound after allowing Bryce Harper to get on base with a single into left field before Luis Arraez doubled into center for his sixth RBI against the Nationals in five games with the team.
The Nationals, meanwhile, did not manage a hit over the final five innings in the loss, marking a deflating ending to the win streak. They now fall to 71-82 overall this season, including 37-41 at Nationals Park in 2026.
Following the loss, the Nationals announced that outfielder Andrew Pinckney has been sent back down to Triple A Rochester. The 25 year old did not appear during Wednesday's loss, though did post a 1-for-3 performance, including one run and a pair of strikeouts, in Tuesday's win. Through 17 appearances with the Nationals this season, Pinckney is hitting .280 with one home run and three RBIs.
The Nationals will enjoy another off day on Thursday before hitting the road to face the St. Louis Cardinals for a three game series beginning Friday, Sept. 18. Cade Cavalli was initially scheduled to start on Wednesday before Blake Butera revealed the finale would serve as a bullpen game, leading the ace to open the series for his second to last start of the 2026 season.
