It was 5-2 in the bottom of the eighth, with two outs, and we were thinking, “Here we go again.” The Nats — and Jayson Werth who went 4-for-5 with two home runs and three RBI — were on their way to a three-game sweep, sending the Phillies into six game tailspin, and losers of eight of nine. But with one swing of the bat, Aaron Altherr changed the Phillies’ fortune. The 26-year-old deposited a Matt Albers pitch into the seats in left center to tie the game at five. The bullpen got two perfect innings of relief from Hector Neris in the ninth and 10th.
The Phils threatened again in the 10th after an Odubel Herrera
“excuse me” double, an Altherr intentional walk, and a
Vince Velasquez bunt single that hit the plate, and went straight into the air, not drawing a throw.
Andres Blanco struck out, but
Freddy Galvis had his back. The shortstop hit a sac-fly to center field that scored Herrera easily for the 6-5 win.
The Phils have the day off tomorrow, and welcome Carlos Ruiz‘s Seattle Mariners to town on Tuesday for a quick two-game series.
