Late heroics lead Phillies past Nationals in extras

Field Level Media|published: Thu 27th March, 19:33 2025

Mar 27, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams (5) tags Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (12) out at second base during the second inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images

Alec Bohm smacked a tie-breaking two-run double in the top of the tenth inning and the visiting Philadelphia Phillies went on to beat the Washington Nationals 7-3 on Opening Day Thursday.

With two outs in the tenth inning of a 3-3 game, runner Bryson Stott stole third and Bryce Harper walked against Colin Poche (0-1). Bohm then lined a double into the gap in left center to score both runners, and JT Realmuto added a two-run triple to make it 7-3.

Harper and Kyle Schwarber hit seventh-inning solo home runs for the defending NL East-champion Phillies.

Jose Alvarado (1-0) pitched a scoreless ninth for the win.

Keibert Ruiz had two hits, including a homer, for the Nationals.

Philadelphia starter Zack Wheeler allowed a run on two hits over six innings. He struck out eight and walked two.

Washington got a stellar start from left-hander MacKenzie Gore in his first opener. The 26-year-old tossed six innings of one-hit baseball, didn't walk a batter, and struck out 13 for a new Nationals Opening Day record.

With Washington trailing 3-1, Dylan Crews walked leading off the eighth against Jordan Romano and Jacob Young was hit by a pitch. After a double steal, CJ Abrams grounded softly to first, scoring Crews. James Wood struck out, but Luis Garcia, Jr. blooped a single to center to tie it.

Schwarber singled leading off the second for the only hit off Gore.

In the fifth, Ruiz capped a 12-pitch at-bat against Wheeler when he homered into the Nationals bullpen in right.

Manager Rob Thomson's altered batting order -- with Trea Turner leading off and Schwarber batting fourth instead of leading off against a lefty starter -- paid off against the Washington bullpen in the seventh.

With one out, Harper homered to center off right-handed reliever Lucas Sims. With two outs, lefty Jose A. Ferrer came on to face Schwarber, who homered to right center on the first pitch.

In the Philadelphia eighth, Max Kepler doubled and Nick Castellanos singled him to third. Ferrer struck out Stott and Brandon Marsh, but then uncorked a wild pitch to Turner that allowed Kepler to score, making it 3-1.

--Field Level Media

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