Josiah Gray ran off the field after fanning Bryson Stott with a high, hard shot to escape a scoring threat that gave the Washington Nationals a rare jolt on the mound.
Gray could be excused for the spirited outing in perhaps his entry into the season.
“I don’t show a lot of emotion, but I do it in big places like that,” he said.
Stone Garrett hit a two-run homer and Gray forced two pop-ups and struck out a batter that stranded the potential go-ahead run in the crucial sixth inning to lead the Nationals to a 2-1 victory over the Phillies at New York. Philly on Friday. evening.
Leading 2-1, Gray (6-6) closed out the meat of Philadelphia’s order after letting the first two runners get to it in the sixth. The right-hander retired Bryce Harper on a jumper to third, had JT Realmuto jump up to second and struck out Stott on a 95-mph fastball.
“That’s something we talked about that he learned from last year to this year, just stay in the moment,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. “Don’t get irritated if something doesn’t go right. Just focus on the next pitch, and he’s doing great this year.”
In a bit of a mistimed promo, the Phillies set off a small burst of fireworks to promote the postgame extravaganza.
The Phillies simply flopped at home after a three-game road sweep against the Cubs. They still finished June 18-8 and moved into NL wild-card contention after a 25-32 start.
The Phillies entered the midseason with a 43-38 record.
“I feel good for the month of June,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “We have to keep it going. I think if you look at the talent on this list, it’s better than an 86-win club.”
But they were blocked by Gray, who struck out eight and walked one in six innings to win his second straight start. Alec Bohm had an RBI single in the second, and it was immediately picked off.
“He was on. He was in the zone with everything tonight,” Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber said.
Harper, who spent seven seasons with the Nationals, hit two singles, the second against reliever Kyle Finnegan in the eighth. But again, the Phillies couldn’t generate the big hit, and Realmuto was pulled at the fielder’s choice to end the inning.
Hunter Harvey worked a scoreless ninth inning for his seventh save.
Phillies shortstop Trea Turner’s throwing error in the second inning allowed Keibert Ruiz to reach, and Garrett followed with a two-run homer off Phillies starter Cristopher Sanchez (0-2).
Sánchez continued a series of solid outings from the Phillies’ starters. He struck out six, walked one and allowed one earned run in his six innings.
DROUGHT OF MEN’S GAMES
Harper was stuck for three home runs and hasn’t gone deep since May 25. Harper, who led the league with 42 home runs with Washington in 2015 and hit at least 30 three other times, returned to the lineup in May, just 160 days away. after surgery on his right elbow.
“I think he’s trying to do too much,” Thomson said.
Harper has been exclusively DH this season, but has been fielding ground balls during batting practice in preparation for moving to first base sometime after the All-Star break.
Thomson liked how Harper has handled the new position. He has more faith that Harper will soon return to the slugging form that helped lead the Phillies to the World Series last season.
“I hope anytime you get it working, you’ll find your shot, you’ll find the right launch angle,” Thomson said. “He’s going to start hitting like Bryce Harper.”