Phillies, Eflin handle Nationals in series finale

On Saturday night, the Phillies saw a big lead go to waste. They didn’t let that happen on Sunday, defeating the Nationals by a score of 7-1. Zach Eflin put together a second straight strong outing and the Phillies take the series from the Nationals. The season series is now tied, 4-4.

The Phillies got the scoring going in the first inning. They loaded the bases with none out and scratched across two due to a fielding error by Nationals first baseman Jake Noll on a Cesar Hernandez grounder.

Washington cut the lead in half in the fourth with a solo home run off the bat of Kurt Suzuki.

In the sixth, the Phils provided themselves some separation in the form of a five-run inning. Andrew Knapp and Maikel Franco both hit one-out singles. Zach Eflin reached on a bunt single, plating Knapp.

A perfectly executed squeeze bunt by @zeflin12 allows @theknappyboy5 to come home and extend our lead to 3-1 in the 6th! pic.twitter.com/QOQrf5nEVM

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) May 5, 2019

After an Andrew McCutchen base on balls, Jean Segura hit into a fielder’s choice, but it scored Maikel Franco to extend the lead to 4-1. Bryce Harper followed with an RBI single and Rhys Hoskins drove in two with a double to make it a 7-1 ballgame.

Keep 'em coming!

That's a 2-run double for @rhyshoskins and a 7-1 lead for your Phillies! pic.twitter.com/AL9lX9f9hw

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) May 5, 2019

Enyel De Los Santos came in and pitched two scoreless innings in relief of Zach Eflin, allowing two hits while striking out four.

Shibe Vintage Sports Starting Pitching Performance

After hurling a complete-game his last time out against the Marlins, Eflin put together a second consecutive stellar performance. In seven innings, he allowed just one run on four hits while striking out five and walking two.

In his third start against the Phillies this season, Sanchez was unable to make it out of the fifth inning despite being solid. He allowed two unearned runs in the first inning and struck out nine before Matt Grace came in and allowed five runs in the sixth inning.

Phillies Nuggets Player of the Game: Zach Eflin

Not even a full day after seeing the bullpen implode and blow a lead, Zach Eflin took the hill on Sunday and made sure that his team had the best chance possible to win this game. He allowed one run over his complete-game gem against the Marlins in the start before Sunday and he didn’t skip a beat against the Nationals either. In addition to throwing seven-innings of one-run ball, Eflin’s bunt RBI-single going in their five-run sixth inning.

Next Game

• Monday, May 6 vs. St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium
• 8:05 p.m.
• NBC Sports Philadelphia 
• SportsRadio 94 WIP