Phillies 1-0
After bouncing out early last season by the New York Mets, the Phillies started the 2025 season, and even though it started ugly offensively, they hung in the game, thanks to Zack Wheeler, and the offense woke up late in the game, and defeated the Washington Nationals, 7-3 at Nationals Park.
The Nationals broke the scoreless tied in the bottom of the sixth inning, as catcher Keibert Ruiz, on the twelfth pitch, took an inside fastball, and deposited into the Washington bullpen, and giving them a 1-0 lead.
Phillies tied the game at 1, as Bryce Harper took a first pitch inside fastball from new reliever Lucas Sims, and deposited deep over the center field wall for his 1st home run of the season, and his sixth all-time on opening day. The homer was estimated at 415 feet.
After Sims was pulled for lefty Jose Ferrer, DH Kyle Schwarber jumped on a first pitch sinker, and just hit it over the right center field wall, and giving Philadelphia the lead, 2-1.
The Phillies added an insurance run in the eighth inning, as the new Phillies, Max Kepler, led off with a leadoff double to left. After Nick Castellanos hit a single to left to put runners on the corners, both Bryson Stott and Brandon Marsh struck out looking. However, the Phils were bailed out by a wild pitch by Ferrer, which scored Kepler, and giving the Phillies a 3-1 lead.
However, in the bottom of the inning, the new Phillie reliever, Jordan Romano, blew a two-run lead, as Dylan Crews walked, Jacob Young was hit, then after a double steal, C.J. Abrams hit into a ground out that cut the deficit to 3-2. Then, with two outs Luis Garcia hit a single to center just in front of Marsh, and that tied the game, 3-3.
In extra innings, Philadelphia broke through, as after Stott took second to start the inning, he stole third with two outs. Then, after Harper walked, it was Alec Bohm ripping a double to left center off reliever, Colin Poche, that scored both Stott and Harper, and making the score, 5-3. Then, after a pitching change by the Nationals. J.T. Realmuto, who struck out in his first four at-bats, hit a triple down the right-field line, as Dylan Crews could not make the catch. Realmuto’s hit made the score, 7-3.
After Jose Alvarado had a dominant 9th inning, Matt Strahm came in, and pitched a 1-2-3 inning to give the Phillies the victory.
Both starters were outstanding today. Washington’s starter, Mackenzie Gore, who faced the minimum amount of Phillies batters through six innings, and striking out 13, while not walking a single batter. Yes, shadows did play somewhat a role, but overall Gore was masterful, as he struck out three Phillies batters twice. Wheeler, pitched nearly, as well, as he went six innings, and allowing only two hits, while striking out eight.
Philadelphia’s next game will be on Saturday afternoon, as new Phillie, Jesus Luzardo, will face Washington’s Jake Irvin at 4:05 p.m.
-David Weightman/ Olde City Sports Network