PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Phillies claimed victory over the Washington Nationals with a 7-2 win on a lively Wednesday night, highlighted by some remarkable performances at the plate. The Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber made headlines yet again with his powerful three-run homer in the first inning, mirroring his style from the previous game. This significant shot off Nationals starter Jake Irvin marked Schwarber’s ninth homer of the season and maintained his impressive string of 36 consecutive games reaching base, a streak that stretches back to the previous season.
Contributing to Philadelphia’s offense, Max Kepler smashed his third home run of the season in the sixth inning, also at the expense of Irvin. J.T. Realmuto added another solo shot off Washington’s Eduardo Salazar in the eighth inning. Further solidifying Philadelphia’s dominance, Bryson Stott and Nick Castellanos each delivered RBI singles, helping to chalk up the Phillies’ fourth straight win.
Starting for the Phillies, Cristopher Sanchez (3-1) endured forearm tightness that had cut his previous outing short after a mere two innings against the New York Mets. Yet, on this occasion, Sanchez secured the game in five innings, relinquishing two runs. The Nationals saw a momentary spark with Nathaniel Lowe’s RBI double, but ultimately, Irvin (2-1) struggled, allowing six runs over eight hits during his six innings on the mound.
Before the first pitch, an unsettling incident momentarily interrupted Washington’s rhythm during batting practice. An unnamed staff member was suddenly overcome by a medical issue, sparking swift response from both teams’ medical staff and paramedics. Ultimately, the individual was transported on a stretcher for further care, but the Nationals did not provide further details on the person’s condition by the game’s close.
A critical juncture unfolded in the fifth inning when Sanchez, having previously given up a double to Lowe, managed to strike him out with two Nationals still on base, effectively rounding off his outing on a positive note. Meanwhile, Washington’s Dylan Crews faced a personal setback, as he tallied a total of 31 strikeouts this season, with 13 occurring across five games against the Phillies — three of which were recorded during this game.
Looking ahead, the series wraps up on Thursday as the Nationals entrust the mound to right-hander Brad Lord (0-3, 4.67 ERA) to face the Phillies’ right-hander Taijuan Walker (1-2, 2.78 ERA), promising another engaging matchup.