Nationals and Phillies Battle As Playoff Picture Begins To Take Shape

Two original KPSL managers tussled again Wednesday night and the result was a typically close-played series with ups and downs, wily decision-making, and in the end a four-game stalemate. Here's how Phillies-Nats went down:

Nationals 5, Phillies 1

W-Luzardo L-Assad SV-Ferrer

HR-Nimmo, Hoskins, Robles

Brandon Nimmo led off the game with a home run (fun fact - the Phillies scored in the first inning in both games they lost) but Jesus Luzardo held the Phils down the rest of the way. Rhys Hoskins - making a cameo appearance - homered in the bottom of the first to give the Nats a 2-1 lead. Victor Robles added a homer in the third to the objections of the Phillies manager. Turns out, yes you can have 4 home runs and be N power. :-) Then a minor kerfuffle broke out in the 9th over the eligibility of Carmen Mlodzinski. It didn't matter but sure did take up several minutes. 

Nationals 3, Phillies 2

W-Fedde L-Diaz SV-Estevez

HR-Sosa, Suzuki

Francisco Alvarez tripled (!) to drive in 2 runs in the top of the first, but again that was all the Phils would score as Erick Fedde (0.95 ERA for the Nats) took charge. Edmundo Sosa's 5th-inning shot tied it -- YES you can have an N against both sides with 7 home runs -- and then Seiya Suzuki drove the Phils crazy with a homer on a HR 1, DO 2-20 roll. Hey, it happens. 

Phillies 8, Nationals 3

W-Gore L-T.Williams

HR-Lindor 2, Abrams, O'Neill

The Phils got their frustrations out by pounding Trevor Williams for 6 in the first 4 innings. Francisco Lindor reached 20 homers by going yard twice in this one, and Mackenzie Gore scattered several extra-base hits to secure the win. Corbin Carroll's bases-clearing 3-run triple in the fourth finished off Williams. 

Phillies 4, Nationals 3

W-Nola L-Estevez SV-Phillips

HR-Harris, Busch

Aaron Nola sparkled once again for the Phils, taking a no-no through 5.2 innings. He was touched up only for a Michael Busch 7th-inning homer that gave the Nats a short-lived 1-0 lead. The Phils bailed out Nola by chipping away at the Nats pen and Carlos Estevez for 3 runs in the 8th. A Michael Harris solo homer in the 9th became very important as the Nats mounted a 9th-inning rally. Down 4-3, bases loaded with one out, they could not push across the tying run as Evan Phillips struck out Robles and then Jared Triolo popped out.

The split was salvaged.