Final Score: Phillies 5, Nationals 3
Darick Hall can’t stop smiling.
In less than 10 games with the Philadelphia Phillies, Hall has become a fan favorite, who consistently seems to be circling the bases at Citizens Bank Park with a big smile across his face.
The 26-year-old continued to establish himself as a cult hero Thursday afternoon, driving in two runs as the Phillies clinched a series victory over the Washington Nationals.
Down 2-0 in the bottom of the third inning, Hall smoked a ball off the center field wall, plating Rhys Hoskins. He would later score on an RBI triple by Didi Gregorius, all part of a three-run frame for the Phillies:
Four innings later, Hall would add an insurance run, hitting his fourth home run in just his eighth game up with the Phillies:
“He’s a pretty calm guy,” interim manager Rob Thomson said after the game. “He’s got a lot of poise and he’s just out there playing baseball like it was on the sandlot. And that’s what I hope for all our guys when they come up … is that they just relax, be calm and treat it like they’re in Lehigh Valley or Reading. I know that’s tough, but that’s when you get the best performance.”
Phillies pitching — which consisted of Bailey Falter, Nick Nelson, José Alvarado, Brad Hand and Seranthony Domínguez — limited the Nationals to just three runs in the matinee, striking out 11 batters.
With the win, the Phillies improve to 44-39. After going 19-8 in June, the Phillies have won four of their first six games in July.
Meanwhile, the Nationals, likely to trade the likes of Josh Bell and Nelson Cruz in the coming weeks, drop to 30-55 in what’s become a lost season. Just three years after winning the World Series, the Nationals find themselves 22 1/2 games back in the NL East.
The Phillies will begin a four-game series in St. Louis Friday night, one that may very well determine whether the Phillies enter the All-Star Break in position to make the playoffs or not. Zack Wheeler — looking to continue building his All-Star resume — will get the ball for the Phillies.
Shibe Vintage Sports Starting Pitching Performance
- Joan Adon‘s nightmare season continued in the series finale, as he allowed six hits and four runs over four innings. While he struck out five batters, Adon also walked three. The 23-year-old’s ERA on the season now sits at 7.10.
- Bailey Falter pitched four innings Thursday, allowing six hits and two earned runs, while striking out two. It remains to be seen whether it will be Falter or someone else pitching in Toronto on Tuesday.
Ticket IQ Next Game
- Friday, July 8 vs. Cardinals at Busch Stadium
- 8:15 p.m. ET
- TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
- Spanish Radio: WTTM 1680
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