Needed Win! Phillies Postgame 9/16/26

The Phillies shut down the Nationals and won 3-0 to split the two-game set before a four-game showdown with the Mets.

Zach Wheeler was dominant today, going for 7 innings with 4 hits, a walk, and 5 strikeouts. Wheeler got his 13th win of the season and allowed most of the bullpen to rest. Wheeler struck out 15 of the 25 batters he faced on the first pitch and allowed only one extra-base hit, a double to CJ Abrams. Wheeler was relieved in the 8th by Jose Alvarado, who allowed a 1-out walk to Andres Chaparro, but outside of that was sharp. Jhoan Duran then came on for the 9th, getting a 1-2-3 inning for his 31st save of the season.

As for the Phillies hitters, they started out hot with three walks from Turner, Arraez, and Harper, followed up by an Alec Bohm RBI single and another walk from Bryson Stott to give Philly the 2-0 lead after the top of the first inning. Bohm and Arraez got the Phillies offense two more walks in the third, but no runs. Schwarber then drew a 2-out walk in the fourth, but Trea Turner could not come through, striking out swinging. Alec Bohm picked up a double in the 5th, and Justin Crawford did the same in the sixth, but none of those hits impacted the scoreboard.

The Phillies would add their final run in the top of the 7th on a Luis Arraez RBI double to center, scoring Alec Bohm and leading to a 3-0 win on the road in Washington. The offense was extremely patient today, working 13 walks. Even with only five hits, Philly was able to find other ways to put traffic on the bases.

Aaron Nola (6- 10, 4.69) faces off against Nolan McLean(11-9, 3.24) at Citi Field tomorrow night to start a 4 game series against the Mets, with the Phillies 5 games behind the Braves, needing to win over half of their remaining ten to win the NL East.

Photo Creds: Washington Post