PHILADELPHIA — Consider Andrew McCutchen’s walk-off homer another closing statement from the clubhouse to the front office ahead of Friday’s trade deadline as the Phillies turned what looked to be dispirited loss into an energizing 6-5 win over the Nationals.
The Phillies were down to the final three outs and down two runs when Jean Segura started the ninth with a double off Nationals closer Brad Hand. The Phillies had life, but they have struggled for a week to hit with runners in scoring position. There was still heavy lifting to be done. Three batters later, it was over.
McCutchen’s three-run homer followed a walk by Bryce Harper and clawed the Phillies back over .500. They enter Tuesday 31/2 games behind the Mets for first place in the National League East. The front office has holes to fill and first place remains in reach. They’ll be buying before Friday.
Howard’s velo dip
Spencer Howard’s velocity had dipped, three runs had scored, and three straight batters reached base when Joe Girardi left the dugout Monday night with an athletic trainer in the fourth inning.
Howard’s night started promising -- he faced the minimum batters through three innings -- and it appeared that he was perhaps building something after throwing three scoreless innings a week earlier. And then the fourth inning arrived.
The right-hander’s average fastball velocity dipped to 91.7 mph after he touched 97.2 mph in the second inning. Josh Bell and Josh Harrison hit back-to-back RBI triples, Gerardo Parra singled in a run to right field, and Girardi left the dugout. Howard had a blister on his right middle finger. His night was finished.
Howard’s velocity dip was similar to his first five starts this season when he tired after a few innings. His fastball averaged 94.4 mph in the first, 94.7 mph in the second, and 92.6 in the third, before dropping to 91.7 in the fourth. He said after one start that his decline came from running the bases. Another night it dipped, Howard said, because he did not eat the right food before the game. On Monday, it was likely due to the blister.
He entered Monday with a 2.16 ERA as a starter in the first three innings with batters hitting just .143 against him. But after the third inning, he has a 18.00 ERA with batters hitting .333. Howard has been excellent early before quickly burning out.
The Phillies planned for Howard to still be pitching in triple A but those plans changed last week when Zach Eflin landed on the injured list with a knee injury and Bailey Falter was placed on the COVID-19 list. The rotation was thin and the Phillies needed a starter.
Eflin will not be able to start on Saturday, Girardi said before the game, so the Phillies will hope that Howard’s blister will heal in five days. If not, Chase Anderson could slide back into the rotation or the Phillies could acquire a starting pitcher before Friday’s trade deadline. The team is already in the market for starting pitching, but Monday made their need more dire.
Bullpen usage
Despite losing Howard in the fourth inning, Girardi avoided using a long reliever as he seemed to manage to win. Brandon Kintzler, Connor Brogdon, José Alvarado, and Héctor Neris combined for 41/3 scoreless innings before Archie Bradley allowed a run in the ninth. Bradley misplayed a grounder hit back to the mound and Didi Gregorius was unable to handle a high chopper. If both of those plays are made, the Phillies would have escaped the ninth without a run.
Girardi will likely not be able to use the same strategy if Matt Moore is unable to pitch deep on Tuesday night.
Hoskins’ blast
Girardi’s bullpen usage proved important when Rhys Hoskins hit a three-run homer in the sixth. Thanks to the bullpen, the Phils were still in it as Hoskins’ homer cut Washington’s lead to one.
Leave ‘em loaded
J.T. Realmuto turned a first-inning out into an infield single by busting down the first-base line and beating Nationals first baseman Josh Bell to the bag. It was a heads-up play and two batters later, the Phils had the bases loaded with one out.
But the rally was quickly extinguished. Hoskins popped up to shallow right field and Juan Soto threw out Jean Segura at home after he tagged from third. It was a curious decision to send Segura.
The Phillies went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position after going a combined 6-for-56 in their previous six games before McCutchen homered.
Up next
Matt Moore will start Tuesday night against Washington right-hander Erick Fedde. Moore allowed six runs in six innings in his last start against Atlanta. He could have trouble against the Nats, who have the second-highest batting average (.269) in the majors against left-handed pitchers, highest on-base percentage (.347), and second-highest slugging percentage (.445).
