PHILADELPHIA -- Cristopher Sánchez looked better in a 7-3 win over the Nationals on Thursday at Citizens Bank Park after a subpar July. But he didn’t quite look like the dominant left-hander of the first half, either.
In the midst of posting a 6.65 ERA in July, the All-Star starter was also tagged for the loss in the Midsummer Classic at his home ballpark.
However, Sánchez turned it around in his last start against the Orioles on Saturday at Camden Yards, where he tossed six scoreless innings with 11 strikeouts.
That said, Sánchez couldn’t quite build on that on Thursday against Washington.
Back at home, where Sánchez boasted a 9-1 record with a 1.28 ERA in 13 starts this season, he labored through five innings and allowed two runs on six hits with six strikeouts and two walks.
For most starters, that’s a good outing. For someone in contention for the National League Cy Young Award for the second straight season, that doesn’t quite reach his standards.
“Just seemed like a tick off tonight,” Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly said, adding that there’s no cause for concern. “We feel good about him. It’s not like we’re worried about him.”
Sánchez prevented further damage by getting out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the fifth inning by fanning shortstop CJ Abrams and getting Harry Ford to ground out. After throwing 98 pitches, 56 for strikes, he didn’t come out for the sixth. The five innings matched his second-shortest outing of the season.
“He always hangs in there,” Mattingly said. “He just keeps going and keeps pitching.”
Uncharacteristically, command has been an issue of late for the 29-year-old Sánchez. The southpaw has combined for 10 walks in his last three starts after walking just 12 in his 14 outings prior to that.
The Nationals also made solid contact off of him.
Ford’s double and Jacob Young’s RBI single in the second accounted for the Nationals’ first run, and Sánchez also allowed a home run to Andrew Pinckney, the first of his career after debuting as a pinch-runner on Wednesday.
Sánchez has allowed just 13 homers in 149 2/3 innings this season.
"I thought our biggest chance was in the fifth, when we just couldn't get that big knock,” Nationals manager Blake Butera said. “But I thought our at-bats as a whole against an arm like that were really good. And to knock him out, having him on the ropes there in the fifth inning, I think was a testament to how good those at-bats were and how many pitches our guys saw."
Luckily for Sánchez, he got a lot of help from his teammates, as he exited with a 6-2 lead.
“The guys swung the bats tonight,” Mattingly said.
Luis Arraez once again found himself as a key contributor in the Phillies' win. Playing in his third game since being acquired from the Giants at Monday's Trade Deadline, Arraez singled, doubled and drove in a run to make it three consecutive games with an RBI since joining the team.
“He’s one of the greatest hitters out there right now,” Sánchez said through an interpreter. “I’m super happy and super excited to have him here. He’s got this type of energy that’s contagious to others.”
The feeling is mutual.
While speaking before Tuesday’s game about his excitement to join Philadelphia’s playoff push, Arraez also said he was happy to be on the Phillies so he didn’t have to face Sánchez anymore this season.
Arraez’s first-inning RBI double opened a two-bag barrage for the Phillies, whose eight doubles were their most since Sept. 6, 2024. Alec Bohm followed Arraez’s hit with an RBI double of his own to put Philadelphia ahead 2-0. Kyle Schwarber, Brandon Marsh, J.T. Realmuto, Bryson Stott and Justin Crawford also drove in runs for the Phillies, who got 12 of their hits off starter Miles Mikolas.
Philadelphia improved to 47-18 this season when either Sánchez, Zack Wheeler or Jesús Luzardo started.
“I always go out there trying to put the team in the best position to win,” Sánchez said.