Washington Nationals Race To 13-2 Thrashing Of Philadelphia Phillies
It was all clicking for the Washington Nationals against their National League East rival, the Philadelphia Phillies. 13 runs on 17 hits, seven runs, six earned, and 10 hits of which came against Philadelphia’s starting pitcher, Taijuan Walker. Two runs allowed on just seven hits by Nats pitching. And one inconsequential error.
The team is now 3-1 in the young MLB season, tied for the division lead. Its offense has looked much improved through four games, scoring more than five runs three times. The pitching has also had bright spots, allowing three runs or fewer three times in four contests.
Nationals Batters Were Hungry And Feasted On Phils Pitching
Every batter in the starting lineup contributed at least one hit for Washington, and the squad didn’t want to spare any time to get things started. Left Fielder James Wood led off the first inning with a six-pitch walk. Luis García Jr., who had a team-high three RBI on the night, followed with a double to move runners on second and third. With one out, the Nationals pushed across their first run of the game thanks to a fielder’s choice.
CJ Abrams then let it rip on a 92 MPH fastball for a base hit for a 2-0 lead for the road team. Drew Millas and José Tena added singles of their own to push across another run. The cushion became 4-0 after the No. 8 batter, Jorbit Vivas, jumped on a first-pitch cutter. The Nats would bat around before Wood ended the inning with a strikeout.
Washington pushed across one run in the second inning with one-base hits by Brady House, Daylen Lile, and Abrams preceding a lined force out off the bat of Millas. The third inning? Of course, the Nationals scored. This time, they would plate two by way of two forceouts to stretch the lead to 7-0.
The fourth inning was the first in which the Nats didn’t drive in a run or produce a base hit. But the Nats continued to pile on the runs, tacking on two in the sixth and four more in the ninth. It was a statement by Washington as it looks to continue its ways against Philadelphia on Tuesday.
Pitching For Nationals Obliges To Supporting Role
Amidst the offensive display, Starting Pitcher Foster Griffin was steady in his debut for the Nationals. The lefty lasted five innings, giving up two earned runs by way of a home run by No. 9 batter Rafael Marchán, and fanning five Phillies batters.
Not a bad outing for a pitcher who had not pitched in the big leagues since 2022. Brad Lord relieved Griffin and pitched three innings, giving up just one hit and three Ks. Cole Henry finished the Phils in the ninth.
Tidbits From Tonight’s Game
With tonight’s outburst, the Nationals have scored 31 runs in four games to start the season. It is the second-most runs the franchise has scored in its first four games to start a season. The only iteration that has scored more in a four-game span to begin a year was the 1974 squad (Montreal Expos) that scored 34 runs.
The team also started 3-1 but finished 79-82. The Nats have only allowed 11 runs through the team’s first four games. It is tied for the fewest allowed by a Nationals team in franchise history.
What’s Next
The last instance of the squad allowing 11 runs came in 1997, when the Montreal Expos began the year 3-1 but finished 78-84. Taijuan Walker allowed six earned runs, the most he has allowed in a game since Sept. 9, 2024, against the Mets. Walker’s career high for earned runs allowed is nine.
