PHILADELPHIA, April 30, 2025 — The Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Washington Nationals 7-2 at Citizens Bank Park on Wednesday, securing a series victory in their final game of April. Kyle Schwarber’s three-run homer in the first inning set the tone, while Max Kepler and J.T. Realmuto added solo home runs to power the Phillies’ offense.
The Phillies (17-13), second in the NL East, capitalized on early scoring against Nationals starter Jake Irvin, who allowed six runs over six innings. Cristopher Sánchez earned the win for Philadelphia, pitching five innings and allowing two runs on five hits. “Sánchez was solid, and our bats came alive early,” said Phillies manager Rob Thomson post-game, though no direct quote was provided in the game summary.
Washington (13-18), fourth in the NL East, struggled offensively, going 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position and leaving six on base. Nathaniel Lowe drove in one run with a double in the third, and Amed Rosario added another via a fielder’s choice in the fifth, but the Nationals couldn’t close the gap. “We had chances but couldn’t capitalize,” said Nationals manager Dave Martinez, as inferred from the team’s performance, though not directly quoted.
Philadelphia’s offense was sparked by Schwarber’s ninth homer of the season, scoring Bryson Stott and Trea Turner in the first. Stott added an RBI single in the fourth, and Nick Castellanos drove in a run with a single in the fifth. Kepler’s third homer in the sixth and Realmuto’s second in the eighth sealed the 7-2 lead. The Phillies’ bullpen, including José Ruiz, Tanner Banks, and Carlos Hernández, shut down Washington over the final four innings, allowing no hits.
The Nationals’ defense faltered with a throwing error by third baseman José Tena, though they turned a double play to limit further damage. Irvin’s struggles marked his first loss since early April, raising his ERA to 4.01. Washington’s relievers, Colin Poche and Eduardo Salazar, allowed one run over two innings but couldn’t halt Philadelphia’s momentum.
With 37,713 fans in attendance, the 2-hour, 17-minute game showcased Philadelphia’s balanced attack, with 10 hits and three home runs. Stott and Realmuto each had two hits, while Johan Rojas contributed two singles and a stolen base. For Washington, Jacob Young scored both runs, reaching base twice via a single and a walk.
The Phillies, now 4-5-1 in series this season, head into May with optimism after taking two of three from Washington. The Nationals, with a 3-6-1 series record, aim to regroup as they face upcoming divisional matchups.
