Monday, August 19, 2024

Game 124 - Bullpen Falters as Nats Avoid Sweep

2013 Finest 1993 Finest #93F-CR
Nationals 6
Phillies 4
Game 124 - Sunday Afternoon, August 18th in Philadelphia
Record - 73-51, 1st Place, 7 games ahead of the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  Two late runs were the difference in this game, as the Nationals scored off All-Star relievers Matt Strahm and Jeff Hoffman to steal a 6-4 win over the Phillies.

What It Means:  The Phillies won three out of the four games with the Nationals, and they're off to Atlanta to face off against the second place Braves with a crucial series beginning Tuesday night.

What Happened:  Taijuan Walker started for the Phillies, and departed after 4 2/3 innings with the Nationals leading, 3-2.  Tanner Banks gave up another run in the top of the sixth, but the Phillies battled back to tie the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the sixth on back-to-back home runs from Bryson Stott and Brandon Marsh.  The usually reliable Strahm and Hoffman gave up runs to the Nationals in the eighth and ninth innings, respectively.  In the bottom of the ninth, with J.T. Realmuto and Bryce Harper available off the bench, Edmundo Sosa singled to start the inning but then Cal Stevenson grounded into a rally-killing double play.

Featured Card:  The Phillies hosted another fantastic pre-game ceremony before this game, this time recognizing alumni, Wall of Famers and key moments from the first 20 years of Citizens Bank Park.  There were memorable moments from the first few years (2004-07), the dynasty years (2008-11) and recent years (2019-23), with almost no reference of the dark times (2012-18), other than Rhys Hoskins' home run tear in 2017 as a rookie.  I'll go with a card for Carlos Ruiz here, as he served as a stand-in during the ceremony for the late, great Roy Halladay.

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