Stone Garrett made an emphatic return to the major leagues, driving in three runs while finishing a triple shy of a cycle as the Washington Nationals pounded the visiting Philadelphia Phillies 9-1 on Friday.
Garrett had not played in the majors since breaking his leg in a game more than 13 months ago. He batted fifth as the designated hitter on Friday and was at the center of a 16-hit attack for the Nationals (70-90).
Juan Yepez, Jacob Young and Luis Garcia Jr. joined Garrett in the three-hit club for Washington, while Keibert Ruiz drove in three runs.
Austin Hays homered for the Phillies (94-66), who have almost run out of opportunities to catch the Los Angeles Dodgers (96-64) for the top seed in the National League playoffs. Philadelphia holds the tiebreaker after winning the season series against Los Angeles.
The Phillies collected only four hits against Trevor Williams (6-1) and four Nationals relievers. Williams allowed three hits — all singles — in five scoreless innings, walking two and striking out five.
Washington took command in the early innings, starting with a four-run first inning against Ranger Suarez (12-8).
Dylan Crews led off with a double and came around to score on Yepez’s one-out hit to center. Two batters later, Garrett clobbered a 3-2 curveball well over the left field wall to make it 3-0. The hosts weren’t done, though, as Garcia and Ildemaro Vargas promptly reached base and advanced on a double steal, setting up Young’s run-scoring infield single.
The Nationals got to Sanchez again in the second inning. Crews led off with a five-pitch walk and James Wood singled to center before Yepez sacrificed the runners into scoring position. Ruiz then delivered a two-run single to center to balloon the lead to 6-0.
Suarez, who hasn’t logged more than six innings in a start since June 14, lasted only two innings in this one. The left-hander allowed six runs and seven hits with two walks, striking out two.
Garrett added an RBI single in the fourth then doubled and scored in the seventh as Washington cruised to the finish line.
–Field Level Media
