The Washington Nationals now enter Wednesday with a chance to secure their first five game win streak since last season
With the regular season winding down, the Washington Nationals now can't stop losing.
The Nationals opened the two game series with a 6-3 win against the Philadelphia Phillies at home, marking the team's first four game win streak since June 13 - 16 when the team took two games against the Seattle Mariners then Kansas City Royals.
Maybe most impressive about Tuesday night? It came with a pair of impact players sidelined as both CJ Abrams and James Wood were out of the lineup. Manager Blake Butera revealed postgame that Abrams was scratched from the lineup due to neck tightness, leading Nasim Nunez to fill in at shortstop and Jorbit Vivas at second. James Wood was set to have a night off but was available off the bench as Butera noted the lineup decisions were matchup-based against Phillies starter Cristopher Sanchez.
Yet it ended well for the Nationals after Andres Chaparro delivered a 2-for-3 performance, while Daylen Lile came in off the bench to step in as the hero.
Jackson Kent put the Nationals in an early hole after walking half of his first four batters faced before an RBI single delivered the game's first run in the opening frame. The Nationals then reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the inning after consecutive doubles tied the game before Jorbit Vivas' two-out single into left pushed them ahead.
The Phillies scored in both the third and fifth innings before the Nationals tied the game up once more, but a three run seventh inning proved to be the difference.
Harry Ford and Andrew Pinckney opened the inning with consecutive singles before a sac bunt courtesy of Nunez advanced the runners to second and third. After the Phillies turned to the bullpen to get out of the jam, Daylen Lile proved that to be inconsequential after clearing the bases with a 407 foot home run into center.
The second home run of the night gave the Nationals their 200th home run of the season, marking the first time the team has eclipsed the mark since the 2019 season that ended in a World Series ring.
The Phillies got one runner over the final two innings as Erik Tolman secured the save.
The Nationals, now sitting 71-81 overall, will look for its first five game win streak of the season and since May 16 - 22, 2025 when they swept the Baltimore Orioles then Atlanta Braves.
