Washington — Alec Bohm homered in his return from the injured list and drove in three runs as the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Washington Nationals 11-9 on August 17, 2025, at Nationals Park, salvaging a split in the four-game series. The victory improved the Phillies to 71-53, maintaining their first-place position in the National League East, while the Washington Nationals fell to 50-74, remaining in fifth place in the division.
Bohm, back after missing time with a hand injury, delivered a three-run homer in the second inning off Washington Nationals starter Mitchell Parker, capping a five-run frame that gave Philadelphia a 6-0 lead. The line drive to left-center field scored Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper, who had singled earlier in the inning. Nick Castellanos added a solo homer in the sixth, his 16th of the season, extending the lead to 9-6 before the Phillies tacked on two more in the eighth on Harper’s RBI single and Harrison Bader’s sacrifice fly.
The Washington Nationals mounted a six-run rally in the third to tie the game at 6-6, chasing Phillies starter Aaron Nola after 2.1 innings. CJ Abrams singled in a run, Daylen Lile added a two-run single, Dylan Crews doubled in two more, and José Tena doubled home Crews. Paul DeJong provided late drama with a three-run homer in the ninth off Phillies reliever Tanner Lazar, his sixth of the year, narrowing the gap to 11-9 before Jhoan Duran secured the save, his 21st.
Philadelphia’s offense collected 11 hits, with Bohm going 4-for-2 with walks, Castellanos 5-for-2 including a double, and Weston Wilson driving in two with a single in the fourth. Harper contributed two hits and two RBIs, while Trea Turner scored three times after reaching base four times. The Phillies capitalized on three Washington Nationals errors, including a fielding miscue by third baseman Brady House that allowed the first run in the top of the first.
On the mound, Caleb Banks earned the win for Philadelphia, improving to 5-2 with a 3.00 ERA after pitching 1.2 scoreless innings in relief. Nola struggled, allowing six runs on seven hits in his shortest outing of the season, raising his ERA to 6.92. The bullpen, including Orion Kerkering, Matt Strahm, and Lazar, combined for 5.2 innings, though Lazar surrendered the three-run homer. Duran retired the final two batters for the save, maintaining his 1.83 ERA.
For the Washington Nationals, Parker lasted 1.2 innings, yielding six runs on four hits and five walks in his roughest start of 2025. Reliever Pierre Poulin took the loss, falling to 0-1 after allowing two runs in the fourth. The Washington Nationals bullpen, including Mario Ribalta and Shinnosuke Ogasawara, permitted five more runs, though Clayton Beeter pitched a scoreless ninth.
Abrams led the Washington Nationals offense with a 5-for-2 performance including a double, while DeJong homered and drove in three. Lile and Crews each had two RBIs, and the team totaled 13 hits but stranded six runners and went 5-for-15 with runners in scoring position. Luis García Jr. stole his 10th base, and Tena swiped his third.
This matchup concluded a series where the Washington Nationals won the first two games, including a 6-4 victory on August 15 where they rallied late, before Philadelphia responded with wins on August 16 and 17. The Washington Nationals have struggled in 2025, sitting 24 games under .500 and well out of playoff contention, with a focus on developing young talents like Crews, the second overall pick in the 2023 draft who debuted in 2024, and Lile, a 2021 second-rounder. Abrams leads the team with a .270 average and 49 RBIs, while MacKenzie Gore anchors the rotation with strong strikeout numbers.
Philadelphia, meanwhile, leads the NL East by several games over the Atlanta Braves, bolstered by a lineup featuring Harper’s .258 average and 55 RBIs, Schwarber’s 102 RBIs, and Castellanos’ consistent power. The Phillies’ pitching staff ranks among the league’s best, though Nola’s 2025 has been inconsistent.
The Washington Nationals’ 8-0 shutout of the San Francisco Giants on August 11 showcased Gore’s 10 strikeouts over six innings, offering glimpses of potential amid a rebuilding year. Offseason moves, including signing free agents like Michael Soroka and reuniting with Josh Bell, aimed to bolster the roster, but injuries and inconsistencies have hampered progress.
As the season winds down, the Washington Nationals face the Oakland Athletics next, seeking to build momentum for 2026.
