WASHINGTON — The Philadelphia Phillies opened their 2025 season with a 7-3 victory over the Washington Nationals in a 10-inning thriller on March 27 at Nationals Park, a Mid-Atlantic clash that showcased resilience and late-game heroics. Alec Bohm’s tiebreaking two-run double and J.T. Realmuto’s two-run triple in the 10th inning lifted the Phillies to a 1-0 record, placing them second in the NL East, while the Nationals fell to 0-1, fifth in the division.
The game remained scoreless until the fifth, when Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz launched a solo home run off Phillies starter Zack Wheeler, giving Washington a 1-0 lead. Wheeler, a Cy Young runner-up in 2024, pitched six innings, allowing two hits and one run while striking out eight. Nationals starter MacKenzie Gore countered with a career-high 13 strikeouts over six shutout innings, surrendering just one hit—a testament to his dominance early.
Philadelphia’s bats awoke in the seventh. Bryce Harper, a former National, tied the game with a solo homer off reliever Lucas Sims, his first of the season. Two batters later, Kyle Schwarber, another ex-National, blasted a solo shot off Jose Ferrer, putting the Phillies ahead 2-1. “It was a big moment for us,” Harper said post-game, per [MLB.com]. The lead grew to 3-1 in the eighth, but Washington rallied in the bottom half. CJ Abrams and Luis García Jr. drove in runs off reliever Jordan Romano, tying it at 3-3 and forcing extra innings.
In the 10th, Bohm broke the deadlock with a two-run double off Colin Poche, who took the loss (0-1, 40.50 ERA). Realmuto followed with a two-run triple off Eduardo Salazar, sealing the 7-3 final. Jose Alvarado (1-0, 0.00 ERA) earned the win with a scoreless ninth, and Matt Strahm closed it out in the 10th. “We showed what we’re capable of late,” manager Rob Thomson told [ESPN].
Offensively, Schwarber led the Phillies, going 2-for-4 with a homer and a .500 average, while Bohm’s 2-for-5 day included two RBIs. Harper added a 1-for-4 performance with a homer, and Realmuto’s triple drove in two despite a 1-for-5 outing with four strikeouts. For Washington, Ruiz shone, going 2-for-4 with a homer, and García Jr. went 2-for-4 with an RBI. The Nationals struggled with runners in scoring position, hitting 2-for-11, while the Phillies converted 3-for-11.
Defensively, the Phillies turned a double play but committed an error via Bryson Stott, who also stole a base. Washington’s baserunners—Dylan Crews, Jacob Young, and García Jr.—each swiped a bag, though Young was caught stealing. The game, attended by 41,231 under sunny 57-degree conditions, lasted 3 hours and 9 minutes, with umpires Alfonso Márquez, Lance Barrett, Carlos Torres, and Charlie Ramos officiating.
This Mid-Atlantic rivalry opener sets the stage for a competitive NL East race. The Phillies, coming off a 95-67 season in 2024, aim to defend their division title, while the Nationals, with back-to-back 71-91 records, seek improvement. The teams meet again March 29, with Philadelphia’s Jesús Luzardo facing Washington’s Jake Irvin.
