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WASHINGTON – A road trip that started with a pair of losses to a last-place team quickly turned into one of the Phillies’ best stretches away from home in recent memory.
A balanced offensive offense helped the Phils (55-53) erase an early deficit against the Nationals (49-59) en route to a 9-5 victory Wednesday at Nationals Park. The victory not only landed a winning record on that seven-game swing and set the club up for a potential four-game sweep on Thursday, but it also marked the first time Philadelphia has won four straight road games since the July 24 to 28, 2015..
After falling two games below 0.500 with back-to-back losses to the Pirates in last place to start the weekend, the Phillies outscored their opponents 36-18 while notching four straight wins. Bryce Harper had three hits and two RBIs. Rhys Hoskins had two more hits, including a two-run homerun. Didi Gregorius added a massive two-run homerun to strengthen the lead in the seventh.
“We struggled to score points there the first two days for some reason,” manager Joe Girardi said. “Sometimes it’s bad luck, sometimes you don’t see a guy well. But obviously we’ve had some great contributions from a lot of guys over the past four days – and this has to continue. “
The latest explosion came after falling into a 3-0 hole on Wednesday. Chase Anderson allowed three solo homers in the first two innings, but struck out seven of the eight batters he faced after serving the third homer – and allowed no more hits other than the three long balls. .
Philadelphia responded with a four-run third inning with doubles from Andrew Knapp, Travis Jankowski, Jean Segura and Hoskins – whose last three resulted in a run. The other point was scored on an RBI single by Harper, who has reached base safely in all 14 games he has played against his former club this season. He hits 0.417 (20 for 48) with 10 extra hits, nine RBIs and 1.374 OPS in those contests.
However, the unlikely hero of that night may have been Matt Moore.
Making his first appearance since being transferred to the bullpen for the second time this season, Moore was called up with Juan Soto at home plate as a potential tie with two strikeouts in the bottom of the fifth. Moore not only pulled Soto out in a routine failure, but he then pitched four innings for his first win of the season and came with one minute remaining.
“I loved the way he pitched, and I just kept sending him back out there,” Girardi said. “Wow he was really, really good tonight. He came to fetch us in a big way. It’s as good as I’ve seen him throw the ball here. He was a big reason why we won tonight.
It was a well-deserved outing not just for the Phillies, but for Moore himself. The southpaw hadn’t pitched since July 27, when he was scored for six earned runs for a second straight start. With the addition of Kyle Gibson, Moore was removed from the starting rotation after posting a 10.80 ERA in his last two starts.
“In general, every time you contribute positively, you feel a little good about yourself, that’s for sure,” Moore said. “Especially the last 11 innings I pitched for this club – it was a detriment. So being able to pull that rope the same way everyone else was tonight feels good. “
The Phillies will now hand the ball over to Aaron Nola on Thursday in hopes of securing a four-game sweep. Regardless of what happens in this contest, however, the Phils have made sure they have a chance to make their way to the top spot by the end of the weekend.
They are trailing the first-place Mets – which Philadelphia will host in town for a three-game set starting Friday – by 1 1/2 games.
“The last four games show how good a team we are,” said Anderson. “We have to keep going and keep winning the playoffs. We are in control of our own destiny for the next two months. It will be a fun race and I can’t wait to go all the way with these guys.
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