Aaron Nola dazzled for eight innings and Rhys Hoskins delivered in the 10th as the Phillies beat the Nationals, 2-1, in Washington.
WASHINGTON — For two and a half weeks, as the Phillies pumped life back into their season, the bats were the defibrulator. But some of the paddles needed to be recharged Saturday.With Hoskins getting a breather and Bryce Harper out because of a blister below his left index finger, the offense sputtered. Aaron Nola dazzled for eight innings, though, and the Phillies were one out from shutting out the bottom-dwelling Washington Nationals.
To update the daily tally: The Phillies have won 15 of their last 17 games and are 14-2 under interim skipper Rob Thomson, the best 16-game roll to start a managerial career since Alex Cora began 14-2 with the 2018 Boston Red Sox.Entering the day, the Phillies scored at least five runs in 11 of the last 16 games. They averaged 6.4 runs and 9.6 hits, benchmarks that aren’t sustainable over the long term and were unlikely to be reached without Hoskins and especially Harper in the lineup.
Asked before the game which Phillies players deserve to be in the All-Star Game next month, Thomson advocated for Nola. But he decided against bringing him out for the ninth inning at 105 pitches against the heart of the Nationals’ order. Nola’s season high is 109 pitches. But the Phillies put their 12th consecutive win over the Nationals -- and their 11th in a row in Washington -- on hold when Hand gave up a two-out pinch-hit single to Lane Thomas.