Edmundo Sosa’s big day not enough as Phillies drop series finale to Nationals
While Phillies fans typically aren’t happy when second baseman Bryson Stott isn’t in the starting lineup against tough left-handed pitchers, Edmundo Sosa did his job in place of Stott as Philadelphia tried to sweep the Washington Nationals Sunday.
Unfortunately for the Phillies, the damage done by the rest of manager Rob Thomson’s lineup was minimal, leaving them to settle for just a series victory over their division rivals.
Cristopher Sánchez was dominant at times during his first outing of the season, striking out eight Cincinnati Reds batters over five innings of work last Monday. But he didn’t have the same sharpness in his second start. While he didn’t implode, Sánchez walked three batters, while allowing six hits and three earned runs over 4 1/3 innings pitched Sunday afternoon.
Meanwhile, southpaw MacKenzie Gore dealt with some of the same issues for the Nationals. Once one of the top prospects in the sport, Gore allowed five hits and two earned runs over 5 2/3 innings against the Phillies, striking out six batters and walking two.
Sosa had a nice afternoon, and was responsible for both the runs the Phillies got off of Gore. Sosa plated Whit Merrifield with an RBI single in the second inning, before clubbing a 412-foot home run that briefly tied the game in top of the fifth inning.
As noted, the tie didn’t last long, though. While Yunior Marte didn’t allow a hit over 1 2/3 innings pitched, Lane Thomas — a runner Marte inherited when taking over for Sánchez — was plated on a sacrifice fly by Riley Adams in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Marte, Matt Strahm and Seranthony Domínguez all turned in strong outings out of the bullpen, but it wasn’t enough as the Phillies didn’t manage to push another run across after Sosa’s home run.
Former National Trea Turner greeted Washington closer Kyle Finnegan with a deep drive to left field to lead off the top of the ninth inning, which looked off the bat like it had a chance to be a game-tying home run. Instead, the ball died at the wall in the chilly April weather, allowing Nationals left fielder Jesse Winker to make a tremendous catch.
Another former National, Harper, scalded a ball to center field off of Finnegan, but right at Jacob Young, who put it away. Finnegan walked J.T. Realmuto, but that struck Alec Bohm out looking to end the game and secure a win for the Nationals.
