Philadelphia Phillies Take Game Two of Four-Game Set With Washington Nationals

The Philadelphia Phillies (72-50) need the bottom of the ninth to win game two of their four-game weekend set against the Washington Nationals (55-68).

After taking a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third, the Nationals would tie the game in the top of the ninth before the Phillies would walk it off in the bottom half.

Topper Has Too Much Faith

Something that has been a problem for the Phillies for quite some time now is Manager Rob Thomson having too much faith in his guys.

Aaron Nola made it through six shutout innings on Friday, on 89 pitches. While Nola is one of the preeminent workhorses in the game today, it was very evident that he was losing his sharpness and fast.

Nola did not have his A+ stuff on Friday, only generating 11 whiffs on the night. He was grinding through the game, but he was spent by the sixth inning.

As the seventh inning began, Nola would still be on the mound.

22 pitches and two outs later, the Nationals would have runners at second and third after Nola walked one batter and gave up a double to another. At 111 pitches, his night would finally be done.

Luckily enough for the Phillies, Matt Strahm would get them out of the inning unscathed, but it is a situation that should not have come up in the first place.

It was evident that Nola was spent after six. Even at only 89 pitches, he has to be lifted for a reliever to start the seventh.

Thomson's faith in his guys has gotten the Phillies in trouble before, and will continue to do so in the future. He has got to step up and be a manager, and not always just a clubhouse "vibes guy."

Notable Stats

• Alec Bohm extended his on-base streak to 33 games with a bloop single in the first.
• Nick Castellanos has a five-game hitting streak after a third-inning RBI single.
• J.T. Realmuto has a five-game hitting streak after a third-inning RBI single.
• Realmuto went 2-for-3 in throwing out would be stealers.
• While Realmuto went 2-for-2 in throwing out baserunners, Phillies baserunners went 3-for-3 in steal attempts.

WPA Leader of the Night

Friday's WPA leader of the night was Nationals third baseman Jose Tena . Tena would go 2-for-3 with with an RBI, a walk, and a strikeout. His RBI would come in the top of the ninth, cutting the Phillies lead to one.

Tena's WPA score for the night would end at 28.5.

Next Up

Next up for the Phillies is game three of this four-game weekend set. The first pitch for Saturday's game is scheduled for 6:05 PM EST. The game will be broadcast on NBC Sports Philadelphia and MASN 2.

Phillies fans can listen to the game on 94 WIP or WTTM 1680.