From ScottLauber: The Phillies emerged with a wild, crazy 8-7 victory over the Nationals to clinch their first doubleheader sweep since Sept. 18, 2020.
WASHINGTON — As soon as the third base umpire pointed to the runner, that was when Dusty Wathan knew. So, the Phillies’ veteran third base coach shouted directions that he’d never given before.
Oh, it counted all right. It even proved decisive. Hoskins’ run gave the Phillies a two-run lead en route to an insane 8-7 victory in 10 innings. Combined with an earlier 5-3 victory, it clinched a sweep of an exhausting day-night doubleheader in the nation’s capital. The Phillies went through 22 players, including 10 pitchers. They forfeited the designated hitter in the nightcap, forcing reliever José Alvarado to bat for the first time in his career in the 10th inning. Thomson blew through his top three late-inning relievers in the first game and had to rely on his questionable bullpen depth in the second.
The wild and crazy second game turned so many times over the final three innings that it’s impossible to know where to begin. Let’s start in the eighth inning, with the Phillies trailing 5-3. “It’s just such a very difficult, close play,” Iassogna said. “We felt that [Hoskins] wouldn’t have been thrown out had the obstruction not occurred.”
Thomson was forced to use his top three high-leverage relievers — Connor Brogdon, Seranthony Dominguez, and Brad Hand — for the final 10 outs, leaving them unavailable for the nightcap.