Nationals Sign Andrew Chafin, Defeat Phillies 4-2

PHILADELPHIA – The Washington Nationals fortified their bullpen on May 1, 2025, by signing veteran relief pitcher Andrew Chafin to a $1 million major league contract. However, Chafin will not join the team until Friday in Cincinnati. To make space for him, the Nationals designated Colin Poche for assignment, leaving the team with a thin relief corps for their game against the Philadelphia Phillies.

With manager Davey Martinez at the funeral of his longtime agent, bench coach Miguel Cairo stepped up to guide the team amid the challenging circumstances. Despite a depleted bullpen, the Nationals secured a 4-2 victory at Citizens Bank Park, showcasing resilience against a formidable opponent.

“I don’t think there’s anybody in this clubhouse that was worried,” said first baseman Nathaniel Lowe. “It’s just a matter of time before the guys get their feet under them.”

The relief pitching proved effective, with Jose A. Ferrer, Jorge López, and Kyle Finnegan combining for four scoreless innings. Ferrer, who faced a high-pressure situation, allowed a run but struck out two key batters to maintain the Nationals’ lead.

On offense, the Nationals had a slow start, failing to score in the first five innings against Phillies starter Taijuan Walker. However, the game shifted in their favor in the sixth inning when they scored four runs, beginning with a double from CJ Abrams and an RBI single from Lowe, who leads the team with 25 RBIs this season.

Keibert Ruiz added an unconventional contribution with a sharp grounder that resulted in a three-base error by Bryce Harper, assisting both Lowe and Ruiz in reaching home safely. A double steal by Garcia and Dylan Crews further solidified the Nationals’ lead.

“It’s something that we work on in spring training,” Cairo noted regarding the double steal. “Davey loves to do that.”

Pitcher Brad Lord took the mound that night not knowing his future role as Michael Soroka prepares for a return. Lord pitched effectively, completing five innings with only two runs allowed, showcasing improved efficiency.

“It was really just mixing and matching pitches, trying to keep them off-balance,” Lord said. “Me and Keibert had a plan and executed a lot of offspeed pitches.”

Ultimately, Lord earned his first career win as the Nationals held on for the hard-fought victory, leaving him with a sense of relief and accomplishment. “Getting the first win, that’s a huge accomplishment,” he said.