By Sam Bush
When September comes, the Phillies will look back on last night’s loss to the Nats and gnash their teeth.
Kurt Suzuki and Victor Robles hit consecutive home runs in the eighth inning to rally the Nationals to a 10-8 victory over the Phillies.
It was just the third win in the last 10 for the Nationals.
Already without Ryan Zimmerman (foot), Anthony Rendon (elbow) and Trea Turner (finger), Washington placed left fielder Juan Soto (back) on the 10-day injured list prior to the game. And the Nationals suffered two injuries during the game, with first baseman Matt Adams jamming his left shoulder and center fielder Michael Taylor injuring his left wrist. Both exited the game.
Washington was so short-handed that ace right-hander Max Scherzer pinch-hit with the bases loaded in the ninth. He grounded out to end the inning.
“We have to get creative,” manager Dave Martinez said. “We’re getting beat up.”
Brian Dozier homered for Washington.
“They never quit,” Martinez said. “They fought back.”
Sean Doolittle pitched a scoreless ninth for his fifth save.
Jean Segura had three hits with a double and an RBI, and J.T. Realmuto doubled and drove in three for the Phillies, who had six doubles among its 12 hits.
After giving up five runs in the seventh, the Nationals came back with four two-out runs in the eighth to make a winner out of Tony Sipp (1-1).
Pat Neshek got the first two outs of the eighth for the Phillies but was lifted for Adam Morgan (1-1) with runners on first and second. Morgan set a franchise record Friday by making his 16th appearance without allowing a run, but pinch-hitter Suzuki ended Morgan’s streak with a three-run shot to left to tie the game at 8. Robles followed with an opposite-field homer to right to put the Nationals in front.
Manager Gabe Kapler defended his decision to lift Neshek.
“You like a fresh Morgan, who’s been arguably your best pitcher all year, against a pinch-hitter,” Kapler said.
Sipp got the final two outs of the seventh after relieving Joe Ross, who surrendered five runs on five hits – four doubles – while recording just one out that allowed the Phils to take an 8-5 lead.
Phillies starter Jake Arrieta gave up three runs and five hits in six innings.
