Phillies shutout by Nationals in return from All-Star Break

The Philadelphia Phillies did not get off to the best start in the second-half of the 2019 season, dropping Friday night’s game 4–0 to the division-rival Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park. Nick Pivetta got the start for Philadelphia, while Stephen Strasburg was handed the ball for Washington.

The scoring for the Nationals started off in the top of the second. Juan Soto started the inning with a walk, which was followed by singles from Ryan Zimmerman and Kurt Suzuki. With the bases loaded and one out, Victor Robles delivered an RBI single that scored Zimmerman and Soto, giving D.C. a 2-0 edge:

Juan Soto BB
Ryan Zimmerman 1B
Kurt Suzuki 1B
Victor Robles 2-run 1B
ZIM head-first slide into home

END 2 // #Nats 2, Phillies 0 pic.twitter.com/tJlF3ZcPdR

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 12, 2019

Washington added onto their lead in the top of the third. With men on the corners, Zimmerman hit a sacrifice fly that scored Adam Eaton from third base. Scott Kingery showed some excellent defense on the play, robbing Zimmerman of a hit that surely would have allowed him to reach second:

SCOTT KINGERY! WHAT A CATCH! Kingery lays out and makes a diving catch to rob Ryan Zimmerman of an extra-base hit!#RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/wHwxTgBwGI

— MLB Daily (@MLBDaily365) July 12, 2019

In the top of the ninth, the Nationals scored for the final time in the game thanks to a Soto sacrifice fly, which allowed Howie Kendrick to score, making the game 4-0.

The Phillies offense did not appear to have benefited from four days off for the All-Star Break. Philadelphia totaled eight hits tonight, but five of those came from Bryce Harper and Maikel Franco combined (Franco went 3-4). Additionally, only one of those eight hits went for extra bases (the one being a Franco double).

With the loss, the Phillies fall to 47-44, while the Nationals move to 48-42. With this loss, the Phillies fall a game-and-a-half behind the Nationals for second place in the National League East and the first of two National League Wild Card spots.

Shibe Vintage Sports Pitching Performance

• Nick Pivetta was just one inning short of a quality start. In five innings of work, the 26-year-old righty allowed three runs, six hits and two walks, while striking out just two batters. He threw 87 pitches, 52 of them going for strikes.

Phillies Nuggets Player of the Game: Stephen Strasburg

• Stephen Strasburg wasn’t an All-Star, but the 30-year-old righty entered the evening with just a 3.19 FIP, a sign that he could be in for a big second-half. Friday night wasn’t vintage Strasburg, but he was effective at limiting the Phillies nonetheless. Strasburg scattered seven hits across six scoreless innings and walked just one batter. He struck out six and threw 111 pitches.

Stephen Strasburg, Disgusting 95mph Two Seamer. ? pic.twitter.com/vSnq1uepWD

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 12, 2019

Next Game:

• Saturday July 13 at Citizens Bank Park
• 7:15 p.m. ET
• TV: FOX
• Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP

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