Game Recap: Phillies beat Nationals 7-5, after 7 1/2 hour rain delay

SOUTH PHILADELPHIA - It took seven and a half hours but the Phillies prevailed with a win and a series sweep over the Washington Nationals. You really have to give the Phillies some credit for today’s win. First having the game delayed in the middle of the 3rd and sitting in the clubhouse for almost 4 hours, then coming out to play in front of what had to have been 1000-2000 fans that were left at CBP. Then finally traversing through an early 4-1 deficit and beating the pesky Nationals 7-5 securing the sweep.

We knew before the game began that a rain delay would take place at some point throughout the day but not when exactly. So with that in mind, the umpires decided to start the game on time and allow Aaron Nola and the Phillies to take the field at exactly 1:05. I wonder if at the moment it crossed any of the player’s minds that they may still be playing this game 7 hours later. Well, that didn’t seem to matter to Aaron Nola who despite struggling a bit with command would go two scoreless innings sending the Phillies into the delay with a 1-0 lead thanks to a Bryce Harper RBI double. Once the game finally did get back up and going around five o’clock, the Nationals took quickly to the Phillies sluggishness as they jumped out to an early 4-1 lead in the 4th inning. Many may have thought it was over at that point and that the Phillies were ready to just pack it in and get ready for the plane ride to Miami. Well boy were they wrong. First, a Rhys Hoskins opposite field blast would tie it all up at four a piece. Next Hoskins would tie it up at six after the Nats took the lead back in the 6th inning. Finally, Alec Bohm would seal the deal with a home run that just cleared the right field wall giving the Phillies the lead for good. Soon enough the welcome sight of Seranthony Dominguez and David Robertson closing the game out through the 8th and 9th innings would take form. And at last, after the third longest game in team history, the Phillies would emerge victorious.

The never die attitude stayed with the Phillies throughout the game today. It’s hard to emphasize how important it is for the Phillies to win games like these. This is one the Phillies will look back on at the end of the season and say, “if we didn’t win that one we probably wouldn’t have ended up here” now I won’t say where that may be because there is still a long road to get there. And that road begins Tuesday night down in the Magic City as the Phils prepare for a three-game series with the Marlins. But for now wherever you are good morning, good afternoon, and good night, and of course Go Phils!