Reeling Nats waiting for someone -- anyone -- to step up in bullpen

WASHINGTON – The Nationals had seen this ending before. Unfortunately for them, it happened twice in the previous two days.

The Nationals’ bullpen blew a late-inning lead against the Phillies and allowed a go-ahead homer in the ninth inning for the third game in a row – this time, on a Bryce Harper two-run shot against Gus Varland.

Thursday night’s 10-5 series-finale loss was a tough emphasis of the Nationals’ ‘pen woes. Washington was outscored 18-4 in the eighth and ninth innings by the Phillies from Tuesday to Thursday.

“You’ve got to attack, you’ve got to throw strikes,” said manager Blake Butera. “And if we’re afraid to do so, we’ll keep giving the next guy an opportunity until somebody steps up and shows they want the ball and they’re ready to go attack.”

The Nationals hoped Thursday would be different, and they were on that path in the early innings.

The Nats jumped out to a 5-0 lead over National League Cy Young Award contender Cristopher Sánchez. They were the first team since Aug. 11, 2024, to score four runs in an inning against Sánchez.

"Once you get down 5-0, it's tough,” said Harper. “That's a really good-hitting team over there. They're one of the best-hitting teams in baseball right now. They have been all year.”

Nationals starter Cade Cavalli, meanwhile, held the Phillies scoreless for the first five innings. The Nationals held a 5-2 lead when he exited after the sixth.

“It sucks when you blow the lead that the starter held the whole time,” Varland said.

Butera first called on lefty Mitchell Parker, who allowed one run before leaving the game with the bases loaded. Right-hander Clayton Beeter inherited the one-out jam. He walked Brandon Marsh to drive in one run, then allowed a game-tying forceout to Alec Bohm.

The game remained tied going into the ninth inning. In some cases, that would be a sign of encouragement that a walk-off was still in reach. But after the devastating outcomes the previous two nights, the Nationals didn’t quite have that same edge in this opportunity.

The right-handed Varland, who pitched a scoreless eighth inning, was back out for the ninth. Kyle Schwarber opened the frame with a line-drive single to center field. Harper approached the plate to the jeers of his former home crowd. On the second pitch, Harper crushed Varland’s changeup for a two-run go-ahead shot to left-center field.

"[I should have thrown] a better offspeed,” said Varland, who was optioned to Triple-A Rochester after the game. “... They can all put the ball in the seats, so you've just got to be smart with your pitches and execute."

The frustrating pattern began on Tuesday. The Nationals took an 8-6 lead into the ninth. The Phillies were down to their final out when Brad Lord allowed a tying two-run homer to Brandon Marsh and a go-ahead three-run homer to Bryson Stott in what spiraled into an eight-run ninth inning.

The following night, the Nats led, 4-3, heading into the ninth. Richard Lovelady surrendered a two-out, two-strike go-ahead two-run home run to Derek Hill.

“After every single game, there's been a tremendous amount of lack of sleep the last few nights just because I know how bad this hurts these guys in the clubhouse,” said Butera.

The only other team to allow a go-ahead home run in the ninth frame in three consecutive games was the 2001 Phillies. From July 28-31 of that season, they yielded walkoff homers to the Mets’ Robin Ventura (July 28) and Mike Piazza (July 29) and the Rockies’ Todd Helton (July 31).

These Phillies became the first team in Major League history to hit a go-ahead home run in the ninth inning of three consecutive games, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

"What a great series by everybody,” said Harper. “Obviously, D. Hill, Marsh, Schwarber yesterday, bullpen, everybody. We played a great series and fought back each game. I thought we played really well.”

The Nationals have a corresponding roster move to make before they begin a six-game road trip on Friday to Baltimore and Boston. Right-handers Cole Henry, Andre Granillo and Zak Kent are among those on the 40-man roster.

Whoever gets added to the bullpen mix will be welcomed with the same encouragement the rest of the team has shown the relievers during this stretch.

“The guys in the bullpen, we feel for them,” Cavalli said. “There’s nobody that feels worse than them. We know that they’re trying as hard as they can. … I know the way they work, the way they compete, and it’s a rough stretch, it’s part of a season, and they’re going to bounce back.”