PHILADELPHIA – The saying ‘offense is contagious’ certainly applied to the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday night. 

All nine starters in the lineup had a hit for the first time this season, while seven different hitters clubbed eight doubles, tied for third-most in a game in team history, to power their way to a 7-3 series-clinching win over the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park. 

The offense wasted no time tagging Nationals’ starter Miles Mikolas, bashing seven doubles through the first three innings. The Phillies scored a pair of runs in the first on run-scoring two-baggers from Luis Arraez and Alec Bohm before adding another run in the second on a Justin Crawford RBI to take a 3-1 lead. 

In the third, the trio of Bryce Harper, Brandon Marsh and Bryson Stott all roped doubles to highlight a three-run inning to extend the lead, 6-1. 

“It was nice to swing the bats well up and down. Everybody with contributions,” interim manager Don Mattingly said. 

“Getting the lead early was nice and then we kept scoring, it’s one of those things you feel good about.” 

Mattingly and the Phillies have to feel good about how the middle of the lineup has produced so far in the first three games with Arraez in the mix. 

The middle of the lineup has looked different for the Phillies, with Harper batting third and the newly added second baseman providing a unique type of protection batting behind Harper in the cleanup spot. So far, it’s worked. 

Harper has been living on the bases, reaching three times in the victory, and over his last 13 plate appearances, he has been aboard six times since the arrival of the new second baseman. 

However, Mattingly credits his slugging right fielder for the production. 

“Harp’s been patient. I thought right before we picked up Luis he started swinging the bat at the end of the road trip,” Mattingly said.

“He had been kind of struggling, but you know guys like that—once they catch their feel, they’re back in a big way. More than anything I think it’s Harper protecting himself and not chasing. Obviously, Luis back there and guys in front of him will help everything.” 

Prior to joining the Phillies as one of the top acquisitions across MLB, Arraez had hit cleanup just five times with the San Francisco Giants this season and 37 times in his eight-year career. But as he’s done throughout his entire career, he still hit in the small sample size, posting a .289 contact clip. 

The decision has been working well for the Phillies despite their newest addition not having an expansive resume in cleanup hitting. 

In his first three games as a Phillie, Arraez is 5-for-13 with a pair of doubles, a home run and four RBIs. He also hasn’t struck out, making him even tougher to retire, especially when the Phillies have been able to put runners on base ahead of him. 

On the mound, Cristopher Sánchez wasn’t quite as effective on the mound, having to battle his way through five innings, especially in his final frame.  

He loaded the bases with one out on a pair of walks and a single, but then the vintage Sanchez reappeared, striking out CJ Abrams for his sixth punchout of the night before getting Harry Ford to weakly ground out. 

“I thought he was a tick off tonight,” Mattingly said of his starting pitcher who became the first MLB pitcher to 15 wins this season. 

“They [the Nationals] have been tough on him all year. They put the ball in play, foul him off a bit. I thought the fifth was huge for us, and you can tell he emptied the tank there.” 

Sánchez went five innings, allowing two runs and scattering six hits while striking out six, giving way to a bullpen that combined to throw nearly 140 pitches the night prior. 

Mattingly used the bridge of Orion Kerkering, Jose Alvarado, Jonathan Bowlan and Jhoan Duran to navigate the final four innings. 

Alvarado, Bowlan and Duran all threw spotless innings, while Kerking allowed a run on two hits but struck out three in the win. 

“Alvy bounced back with a quick inning, Bowl again was good, Kerky had to battle again tonight but got out of it with a late punch. Those guys were good out there tonight,” Mattingly said of his relievers. 

The Phillies continue their homestand on Friday, beginning a weekend series against last year’s American League pennant winners, the Toronto Blue Jays, when they induct legend Chase Utley into the Wall of Fame.

First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m.

Keywords

Philadelphia Phillies,

Washington Nationals,

MLB,

Series Finale,

Game Recap