Phillies erase six-run deficit but fall short, into a tie for last place in the NL East

WASHINGTON — The Phillies built a reputation last October — and in much of the second half of last season — for come-from-behind wins. They were resilient. In the playoffs, it seemed no opponent’s lead was safe. Rallies felt inevitable. But for most of 2023, that energy has been sapped. Which made Friday’s 8-7 loss to the Nationals all the more frustrating.

The Phillies dug themselves holes of 6-0 and 7-1 by the end of the fourth inning, and bit by bit, they climbed their way out of it. Nick Castellanos, whose solo homer in the fourth accounted for the team’s first run, added a two-run shot in the sixth before Trea Turner doubled and Brandon Marsh singled him home. Castellanos’ drove in his fourth and fifth runs with a single in the seventh, and Marsh scored on a throwing error in the eighth to tie it, 7-7.

But in the Washington half of the eighth, reliever Connor Brogdon issued a two-out walk to No. 9 hitter Alex Call, who went on to steal second and score on a single by Lane Thomas. Castellanos capped his 4-for-5 night with a one-out double in the ninth, but pinch runner Dalton Guthrie was stranded as the Phillies suffered their fifth straight loss.

Of course, that six-run hole shouldn’t have been dug in the first place. The Phillies made sloppy defensive mistakes. Starter Zack Wheeler wasn’t as sharp as he had been in Atlanta last week. And when J.T. Realmuto’s pop fly was caught by first baseman Dominic Smith, the Phillies had fallen to last place in the NL East, tied with the Nationals, a team that has spent $151 million less on its payroll. This is not how they drew it up.

The defending National League champions are 25-32.

“Yeah, man, it does [surprise me],” said Castellanos. “It’s frustrating. But this game is a really humbling game. It forever owes you nothing. It doesn’t matter how hard you worked the year previous or what you had in the past. You have to come and earn your meal every single night. I think it’s just a reminder.”

The Phillies have been humbled lately. There is not much reason for optimism. The bullpen is one. Castellanos batting .311 is another. Ranger Suárez looking like Ranger Suárez in his most recent start is a third. But perhaps the most important, at least before Friday night, was Wheeler.

In Atlanta, Wheeler gave the Phillies his best start of the season. He pitched eight shutout innings with 12 strikeouts against a tough Braves lineup. He conceded after the game that he needed an outing like that. He looked like an ace. There was hope that it would spark some positive momentum.

But like much his team, he stumbled. By his next start, on Friday night, Wheeler’s pinpoint command was diminished. The Nationals worked their at-bats. He threw 22 pitches in the first inning, 30 in the second inning, 15 in the third, and 23 in two-thirds of the fourth inning. He allowed eight hits and seven runs, including one home run, with one walk and three strikeouts on 90 pitches in 3⅔ innings.

“[My command] wasn’t where it was in the game in Atlanta, but I think better than what the results showed today,” Wheeler said. “So that’s something I’ll have to look at.”

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Because Wheeler didn’t go deep into the game, manager Rob Thomson had to use four relievers. It wasn’t ideal ahead of Saturday’s bullpen game, but it also wasn’t entirely Wheeler’s fault. He was not helped by his outfield defense. With one out in the first, Jeimer Candelario hit a fly ball to left that Kyle Schwarber was unable to run down. Thomas scored on the double, and Candelario ended up scoring on a sacrifice fly by Corey Dickerson two batters later.

In the second inning, with one out and no one on, CJ Abrams hit a sharp line drive to center field straight at Marsh. Marsh broke forward but should have broken back. It fell for a double, and Abrams then scored on a single by Call.

The Phillies have not had a starting pitcher — outside of Matt Strahm, who is now in the bullpen — who has been consistent this season. Wheeler and Nola, the Phillies’ No. 1 and 2 starters, have shown flashes of their 2022 selves, but have been unable to sustain it. Taijuan Walker has been erratic and saw his velocity dip in his last outing. Suárez is still a question mark.

There are obvious risks that come with not having a fifth starter — like burning out your bullpen every five days — but one is that it puts the onus on the rest of the rotation to always be the best versions of themselves. And that isn’t always possible. Nevertheless, Wheeler was willing to take the blame on Friday night.

“I think tonight showed who we are,” Wheeler said of the comeback. “This one is on me, really. Guys battled back, we just couldn’t finish it out. We know who we have in this room and what we have to do. So we just have to be more consistent, and it starts with us starting pitchers. Keep runs off the board early, keep the momentum on our side, I think that’s the big key for us.

“I put them down in a big hole and guys never quit. Got some big hits and guys stayed locked in. That’s what good teams do. And I know we’re a good team. We’ve just been playing a little inconsistent. Like I said, it starts with the starting pitching. Just got to keep the runs off the board and keep the momentum on our side.”

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Thomson announced that Strahm will start the Phillies’ bullpen game on Saturday. He should be available for “two or two-plus innings.” Thomson said that all of the relievers who threw on Friday night should be available to pitch Saturday as well.