Washington Nationals lose second straight to Philadelphia Phillies, 3-2 in D.C.

Juan Soto lunged for and missed a line drive to left field and Adam Eaton and Victor Robles collided going for a fly to right-center in the seventh inning, and Philadelphia’s Phillies took advantage of the miss and miscue to plate two runs and take a 3-2 lead in what ended up a one-run win over the Washington Nationals in the nation’s capital.

Corbin vs the Phillies: In 11 ¹⁄₃ IP in his last two starts before tonight’s, Patrick Corbin gave up a total of eight runs on 16 hits in losses to the Baltimore Orioles and Miami Marlins, but the left-hander said after facing the Fish that he thought he was still rounding into form in what’s been an odd season for everyone.

“Each time out there I’m gradually getting better and better,” Corbin said.

“Still maybe not exactly where I need to be, but feel pretty good, so just going to try to continue to do that.”

On the year, Corbin had a 3.99 ERA, six walks, 31 Ks, and a .265/.298/.436 line against in five starts and 29 ¹⁄₃ IP going into his matchup with the Phillies.

Corbin tossed two scoreless on 39 pitches to start his outing, and came out for the third inning with a 1-0 lead, but his 42nd pitch of the game, a 64 MPH, first-pitch curve to Rhys Hoskins, went out to left field for a game-tying, one-out solo shot, 1-1. Hoskins’ 3rd of the season.

Corbin completed five on 78 pitches, holding the Phillies to the one run, and he stranded a one-out single in a 16-pitch sixth which left him at 94 pitches overall.

Corbin came back out for another inning of work, but second pitch in the seventh was lined to left field by Didi Gregorius, and Juan Soto made a lunging attempt and came up empty... allowing Gregorius to hustle around to third.

That was it for Corbin...

Patrick Corbin’s Line: 6.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 Ks, 1 HR, 96 P, 64 S, 6/4 GO/FO.

Nola vs the Nationals: In his first three starts this month, Philly righty Aaron Nola put up a 0.86 ERA in 21 IP, with three walks, 30 Ks, and a .116/.153/.217 line against in those outings, but he gave up six hits, three walks, and four earned runs in just 2 ²⁄₃ IP in his last start, on the road in Atlanta, throwing 71 pitches in just 2 ²⁄₃ IP.

“Pretty bad all around all night,” Nola told reporters, as quoted by MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki, after facing the Braves.

“I didn’t get out of the third inning, which obviously stinks,” Nola added. “I don’t think that’s ever happened. But I learn from it tonight and get back to work tomorrow.”

Nola retired the side in order in the bottom of the first tonight, but his first pitch to Juan Soto in the second went out to left for an opposite field home run that made it 1-0 early.

Soto’s 8th of 2020.

Nola walked Asdrúbal Cabrera and Soto in the first two at bats of the Nats’ fourth, and an RBI single by Howie Kendrick put the home team on top, 2-1.

After stranding a one-out single in the fifth, Nola, who was up to 84 pitches, came back out for the sixth and stranded a two-out single in a 15-pitch frame which left him at 99 overall.

Nola returned to the mound with a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the seventh inning and retired the Nationals in order in a 14-pitch frame.

Aaron Nola’s Line: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 8 Ks, 1 HR, 113 P, 77 S, 9/1 GO/FO.

Turn-On: Trea Turner’s leadoff, opposite field home run in last night’s game extended his hitting and on-base streaks.

Turner had hits in 11-straight games, going 18 for 43 (.419 AVG) over the course of his streak, with three doubles, two triples, three home runs, eight RBIs, four walks, two HBPs, and 15 runs scored. He’d also reached base safely in 17-straight games going back to August 8th, with a .462 OBP over that stretch.

Turner extended both streaks with a one-out single to right field in the bottom of the fifth inning, at which point he was 1 for 3 on the night.

BULLPEN ACTION: Will Harris came on for Patrick Corbin with a runner on third and no one out in the seventh and gave up an RBI single on the first pitch he threw to Alec Bohm, 2-2.

Pinch hitter Roman Quinn dropped a bunt right in front of home, allowing Yan Gomes to get out No. 1 of the inning at second, but Andrew McCutchen hit a fly to right-center in the next at bat that Adam Eaton and Victor Robles converged on before colliding and letting it fall to the grass in front of the warning track. Rhys Hoskins popped out to right field for out No. 2, but Bryce Harper hit an RBI single to left to put the Phillies on top, 3-2.

Tanner Rainey got a 6-3 DP after giving up a one-out single in a scoreless top of the eighth.

Tommy Hunter was the first pitcher out of the pen for the Phillies tonight, and he retired the Nationals in order to preserve the visitor’s one-run lead, 3-2.

Daniel Hudson gave up a two-out single to left-center by Andrew McCutchen and hit Rhys Hoskins to put two on in front of Bryce Harper, who walked to load them up in front of J.T. Realmuto, who sent a fly to center to end the threat.

Brandon Workman came on for the save in the bottom of the ninth, and gave up a leadoff double by Howie Kendrick, who bounced a 3-0 fastball off the base of the wall in left and hustled around to second.

Michael A. Taylor came on to run for Kendrick, and took third base on a Luis García single through the left side. Eric Thames got an opportunity to tie it with runners on the corners and one out, and K’d swinging over a filthy, 3-2 curve. Two out. Victor Robles? Robles fell behind 0-2 quickly, and K’d swinging at a 1-2 curve outside.

Workman gets it done in workmanlike fashion. Final Score: 3-2 Phillies.

Nationals now 11-17