Monday, April 18, 2016

Phils halt Nats' streak on Galvis' walk-off hit

Forget Bryce Harper for a moment. How about Freddy Galvis' heroics?
After Harper ripped a solo home run to right-center in the top of the 10th inning Sunday afternoon to give the Nationals a one-run lead, the Phillies rallied to score twice in the bottom of the 10th in a 3-2 victory, ending Washington's seven-game winning streak. Peter Bourjosdoubled and scored on pinch-hitter Andres Blanco's two-out single to left to tie it. And Blanco scored from second on Galvis' double to left field to win the game.
"That's what the doctor ordered," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. "It was nice to salvage a win out of the series after not swinging the bats well. It was great. Guys stepped up in the 10th and came through for us. It was great to see, a lot of fun - that one inning."
Nationals closer Jonathan Papelbon blew his first save of the season.
"We're in first place and we won the [hard-fought] series, man. You know?" Papelbon said.
Charlie Morton allowed one run and struck out six over six innings for the Phillies.
Carlos Ruiz drove in the Phillies' first run with a second-inning home run.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Harper in record books: Harper has homered in six consecutive games at Philadelphia's Citizens Bank Park, tying a Major League record held by Ernie Banks for Phillies' opponents. Harper has also homered in four consecutive games overall, which is a career high.
"It's a pleasure to even be in the same sentence as Ernie Banks," Harper said. "At the end of the day, you want to win ballgames. Like I said, a series win is a series win. We take this into Miami and keep it going, hopefully." More >
Leaving runners stranded: The Nationals went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position. Their biggest chance came in the top of the ninth inning against Jeanmar GomezJayson Werth led off with a double, but he didn't move another inch. Clint Robinson and Stephen Drew struck out. After Jose Lobaton walked, Michael Taylor grounded out to end the threat.
Anthony Rendon drove in the Nationals' first run with a sixth-inning single
"It's like that sometimes," Nationals manager Dusty Baker said. "We had a number of chances, especially with runners in scoring position with two outs. We had quite a few. We keep putting them out there. If you keep putting them out there, something good is going to happen."
Gio has quality start: Washington's Gio Gonzalez lasted seven innings and allowed one run on four hits, but picked up his second no-decision of the season. His only mistake was allowing Ruiz's homer on a 3-0 pitch.
"I was pounding Lobby's [Lobaton's] glove. I was just being aggressive in the strike zone. I wasn't trying to not walk anybody. I was trying to keep the game close as possible," Gonzalez said.
Gorgeous, Bourjos: Bourjos hit a one-out double into the left-field corner in the 10th to give the Phillies' a little life against Papelbon, who is the Phillies' all-time saves leader. After pinch-hitter Cedric Hunter flied out to center for the second out, Blanco laced a single to left field to score Bourjos to tie the game.
"That ball was smoked to left," Bourjos said of Blanco's hit. "I just tried to get a good jump and run as fast as I can." More >
Freddy loves Pap: Galvis' game-winning double was the third walk-off hit of his career. He is 3-for-3 with one double, one home run, one walk and two RBIs against Papelbon since the Phillies traded him to the Nationals last July. It also was the first time a Phillies leadoff hitter reached based since the first inning Wednesday against San Diego. They had been 0-for-19 since.
"I played behind him for three years," Galvis said of Papelbon. "So I know the way he pitches, and maybe a little about what the ball does. He got the split and the fastball. I know he likes to throw the fastball. I think he threw me four, five fastballs so I was ready for it."More >
QUOTABLE
"Personally, I like Pap. He is the villain; closers are villains to visiting teams. I like the guy, but it's good to beat any closer. I'm happy about that." -- Mackanin, on if beating Papelbon is a little sweeter
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Papelbon is 1-2 with a 12.27 ERA and two blown saves in four appearances against the Phillies since they traded him to Washington. More >
Despite playing 10 innings, the Phillies had fewer than 10 hits in a game for the 13th consecutive game. It is their longest streak without double-digit hits to start a season since at least 1913, according to Baseball Reference.
INSTANT REPLAY
Harper appeared to hit a two-out double in the first inning, narrowly beating a throw to second from Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera. But the Phillies challenged the call from second-base umpire Joe West. Replay showed Harper slid past the bag as Galvis applied the tag and the call was overturned.
The Nationals lost a challenge in the sixth, when Galvis threw out Harper at first base. The call stood. It was a big play because the Nationals had a runner on third, and he would have scored to give Washington the lead.
The Phillies won another challenge in the eighth, when Maikel Franco's throw to first pulledDarin Ruf off first base. The call was overturned as replay showed Ruf tagged Chris Heiseyfor the out.
The Nationals finally had a replay go their way in the ninth, when the Phillies challenged Herrera being called out at first base. Replay showed Drew's throw beat Herrera to the bag.
WHAT'S NEXT
Nationals: The Nationals travel to Miami to play a four-game series against the Marlins starting Monday at 7:10 p.m. ET. Tanner Roark is expected to get the start. He is 2-2 with a 2.39 ERA in six appearances at Marlins Park. With Stephen Strasburg out with the flu, the Nationals needed Roark to make his previous start a day early. The change of plans didn't hurt Roark on Wednesday night, as he pitched seven shutout innings against the Braves.
Phillies: The Phillies open a three-game series Monday night against the Mets at Citizens Bank Park at 7:05 p.m. ET. Right-hander Jerad Eickhoff (1-1, 1.50) faces Mets right-handerNoah Syndergaard (1-0, 0.69 ERA). The Phillies took two of three from the Mets in a weekend series in New York earlier this month.

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