Late surge helps Nationals salvage series finale vs. Phillies

Field Level Media|published: Sun 18th August, 16:57 2024

Aug 18, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Edmundo Sosa (33) tags out Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams (5) in a rundown after he picked off during the third inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Jacob Young hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the eighth inning to lift the visiting Washington Nationals to a 6-4 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday afternoon in the finale of a four-game series.

Washington loaded the bases with no outs in the eighth against Phillies reliever Matt Strahm (4-2). Luis Garcia Jr. was then cut down at the plate on Juan Yepez's grounder, but Young followed with his sacrifice fly to help the Nationals avoid a sweep.

James Wood provided Washington with some insurance in the ninth, blasting a 417-foot solo home run to complete the scoring.

Jacob Barnes (7-2) earned the win with 1 1/3 innings of perfect relief. Kyle Finnegan worked around a single in the bottom of the ninth to pick up his 31st save of the season.

CJ Abrams went 2-for-4 with a walk and three stolen bases for the Nationals, who ended a four-game skid.

Trea Turner belted a solo homer among two hits and added two runs as Philadelphia said goodbye to a four-game winning streak.

Bryson Stott and Brandon Marsh erased a 4-2 deficit with back-to-back solo shots in the sixth for the Phillies.

Wood opened the top of the fourth with a walk and Keibert Ruiz followed with a homer to draw Washington even at 2-2.

The Nationals then moved in front an inning later, as Alex Call smacked a solo homer with two outs. It was Call's third long ball of the season.

Another two-out rally gave Washington a 4-2 edge. After Garcia struck out and Andres Chaparro flied out to start the sixth, Jose Tena doubled and scored on Travis Blankenhorn's single.

Philadelphia went up 1-0 thanks to three straight one-out singles in the home half of the first, with Nick Castellanos' bringing home Turner.

Turner doubled the Phillies' lead with a solo shot in the third.

Neither starter factored into the decision. The Nationals' Jake Irvin was tagged for four runs on eight hits in six innings, walking one and striking out five. Philadelphia's Taijuan Walker lasted 4 2/3 innings, giving up three runs and four hits. He walked three and fanned three.

--Field Level Media

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