J.T. Realmuto hit a tie-breaking home run in the sixth inning and the Philadelphia Phillies snapped a five-game losing streak by beating the host Washington Nationals 4-2 on Saturday.
Realmuto also doubled and scored two runs, while the Phillies used seven pitchers to even the three-game series.
Matt Strahm worked two scoreless innings in a starting role on a bullpen day for the Phillies. Dylan Covey (1-1) was the winning pitcher despite giving up the two Washington runs. Craig Kimbrel worked the ninth for his eighth save.
The Nationals managed seven hits – all singles – and drew just two walks. Washington’s two-game winning streak, that started with a road victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday, was halted.
Washington left-hander MacKenzie Gore (3-4) was charged with three runs on nine hits across six innings.
After Realmuto’s solo shot in the sixth, for his fourth homer of the season, the Phillies tacked on another run when Bryce Harper scored on Brandon Marsh’s sacrifice fly in the eighth.
Realmuto doubled and scored in the second inning on Josh Harrison’s single. Philadelphia was up 2-0 in the third on former Washington infielder Trea Turner’s run-scoring double.
Washington pulled even in the fourth inning when Keibert Ruiz knocked in the first run with a single and CJ Abrams grounded into a double play to produce the tying run when Dominic Smith scored.
Harper had two hits for the Phillies against his former team. Realmuto and Harrison joined him with two hits, while Philadelphia racked up 10 total hits.
The seven Philadelphia pitchers combined for four strikeouts, with no one pitcher collecting more than one. Washington leadoff hitter Lane Thomas was a strikeout victim twice.
Washington fell to 0-7 in Gore’s last seven starts.
–Field Level Media
