Washington Nationals Recap: Offense backs stellar Gio Gonzalez as Nats complete sweep
By Pablo Roa
The Washington Nationals have played some of their best baseball of the season over the last few days in Philadelphia. The team has excelled with potent offense and phenomenal starting pitching throughout the series, and Wednesday night’s game was no exception.
Backed by a dazzling performance from Gio Gonzalez and the powerful bats of Jayson Werth and Bryce Harper, the Nationals completed a three-game sweep over the Phillies with a 12-2 victory.
It all started with Gonzalez, who pitched one of his best games of the season. The left-hander pitched seven brilliant innings, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out a whopping 12 batters and walking two.
The Nationals gave Gonzalez more than enough run support, as the team once again overpowered the Phillies’ pitching staff.
Jose Lobaton got the scoring started with a sacrifice fly in the top of the second inning to give the Nationals a 1-0 lead. Jason Werth doubled the Nationals’ lead with a solo homer in the fourth inning.
The Phillies tied the game in the bottom of the fourth on a two-run homer off the bat of Darin Ruf, but an RBI single by Anthony Rendon an inning later gave the Nationals a 3-2 lead. At that point, the Nationals never looked back.
An RBI double by Yunel Escobar later in the fifth stretched Washington’s lead to 5-2. Another Werth homer and an RBI double by Ian Desmond made it a 6-2 game in the sixth. Harper joined the parade with a homer in the eighth inning. It was a three-run blast, his 40th of the year, and it gave the Nationals an 8-2 lead.
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It was another special night for Werth and Harper, who dominated in this series with four homers each.
Unfortunately for the Phillies, the Nationals’ offense wasn’t finished. Washington made it an 11-2 game on RBI singles by Rendon and Escobar in the eighth inning. The Nationals scored their 12th and final run on an RBI single by Lobaton in the ninth inning.
After Gonzalez left the game, the Nationals bullpen shut the Phillies’ offense down the rest of the way. Felipe Rivero and Rafael Martin each turned in a scoreless inning of work, securing the 12-2 victory for the Nationals.
Next Game: The Nationals look to keep their momentum going as they open a series against the Miami Marlins tomorrow night at Nationals Park. Tanner Roark gets the start for the Nationals, while Jarred Cosart gets the start for the Marlins. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. ET.