PHILADELPHIA — The Washington Nationals (13-17), fourth in the NL East, suffered a heartbreaking 7-6 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies (16-13), second in the division, on April 29, 2025, at Citizens Bank Park. A late rally, capped by Nathaniel Lowe’s three-run homer, gave the Nationals a lead in the ninth, but closer Kyle Finnegan’s blown save allowed Philadelphia to steal the victory with a walk-off wild pitch.
The game, attended by 38,387 under partly cloudy 80-degree conditions, saw the Nationals overcome an early 3-0 deficit. Philadelphia’s Kyle Schwarber hit a two-run homer in the first off starter MacKenzie Gore, and Johan Rojas added a solo shot in the third. Washington responded in the sixth with Luis García Jr.’s solo homer, narrowing the gap to 3-1. In the seventh, CJ Abrams’ RBI double scored Jacob Young, making it 3-2.
The Phillies pulled away in the eighth, as Trea Turner’s RBI double and a wild pitch by Jose A. Ferrer scored two runs, extending their lead to 5-2. Washington mounted a comeback in the ninth against Orion Kerkering (W, 3-1). Abrams singled, James Wood doubled in a run, and after a throwing error by Turner, Lowe’s sixth homer of the season—a three-run shot—put the Nationals ahead 6-5. Finnegan (L, 0-1), however, faltered in the bottom half. Alec Bohm singled, pinch-hitter Bryson Stott walked, and Rojas’ sacrifice fly tied the game. Stott stole second and scored on Finnegan’s wild pitch, sealing Philadelphia’s victory.
Abrams led Washington with four hits, including a triple and a double, driving in one run. Lowe’s three RBIs and García Jr.’s homer paced the offense, which tallied 11 hits. Gore pitched six innings, allowing three runs on five hits with six strikeouts. The bullpen struggled, with Ferrer and Finnegan surrendering four runs in 1.1 innings. Philadelphia’s Zack Wheeler threw 6.2 innings, yielding two runs, while their nine hits included Schwarber’s and Rojas’ homers.
The Nationals’ 11 hits were a bright spot, but their 2-for-10 performance with runners in scoring position and nine left on base proved costly. Philadelphia capitalized on Washington’s bullpen woes, going 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position but scoring crucial runs late. The game, broadcast on MASN, is available for replay. Manager Dave Martinez lamented the loss, saying, “We fought hard to take the lead, but we’ve got to close it out.”
The Nationals, rebuilding after a 71-91 season in 2024, rely on young stars like Abrams (.279 average) and Wood (.257). Lowe’s power and García Jr.’s emergence bolster the lineup, but the bullpen, ranked 23rd in MLB with a 4.12 ERA, remains a concern. Philadelphia, a 2024 playoff team, showcased resilience, with Turner’s four hits and Stott’s clutch baserunning. The teams face off again on April 30 at 6:40 p.m., with Washington’s Jake Irvin scheduled to pitch against Philadelphia’s Ranger Suárez.
The loss dropped Washington 3.5 games behind Philadelphia in the NL East. With a favorable May schedule, including series against Miami and Pittsburgh, the Nationals aim to climb the standings, but strengthening the bullpen will be critical for postseason aspirations.
