PHILADELPHIA — Stone Garrett hit a two-run homer and Josiah Gray pressured two pop-ups and struck out a batter that left the potential go-ahead run stranded within the pivotal sixth inning to steer the Washington Nationals to a 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday evening.
Staked to a 2-1 lead, Gray (6-6) shut down the meat of Philadelphia’s order after he let the primary two runners attain within the sixth. The right-hander retired Bryce Harper on a pop as much as third, acquired J.T. Realmuto to pop to second and struck out Bryson Stott swinging on a 95 mph fastball.
In a little bit of an ill-timed promotion, the Phillies then set off a small batch of fireworks to advertise the larger postgame spectacular.
The Phillies merely fizzled at dwelling following a three-game street sweep towards the Cubs. They additionally completed June 18-8 and moved into NL wild-card competition following a 25-32 begin.
But they have been stymied by Gray, who struck out eight and walked one over six innings to win his second straight begin. Alec Bohm had an RBI single within the second – and was promptly picked off.
Harper, who spent seven seasons with the Nationals, singled twice, the second time towards reliever Kyle Finnegan within the eighth. But once more, the Phillies couldn’t generate the large hit, and Realmuto was retired on a fielder’s alternative to finish the inning.
Hunter Harvey labored a scoreless ninth for his seventh save.
Phillies shortstop Trea Turner’s throwing error within the second allowed Keibert Ruiz to succeed in, and Garrett adopted with a two-run shot off Phillies starter Cristopher Sánchez (0-2).
Sánchez continued a string of strong outings from Phillies starters. He struck out six, walked one and allowed one earned run in his six innings.
HOME RUN DROUGHT
Harper remained caught on three dwelling runs and hasn’t gone deep since May 25. Harper, who led the league with 42 homers with Washington in 2015, and hit not less than 30 three different instances, returned to the lineup in May, simply 160 days after surgical procedure on his proper elbow.
“I think he’s trying to do too much,” Phillies supervisor Rob Thomson mentioned.
Harper has served solely because the designated hitter this season, however has been fielding grounders throughout batting observe in preparation of a transfer to first base some level after the All-Star sport.
Thomson favored how Harper has dealt with the brand new place. He has extra religion Harper will quickly return to the slugging kind that helped take the Phillies final season to the World Series.
“I’m expecting at any point now that he’s going to get it going, he’s going to find his stroke, he’s going to find the right launch angle,” Thomson mentioned. “He’s going to start hitting like Bryce Harper.”
UP NEXT
The Nationals ship LHP MacKenzie Gore (4-6, 3.89 ERA) to the mound towards Phillies RHP Zack Wheeler (6-4, 3.76 ERA).
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