Phillies Triumph Over Nationals in Season Opener: 7-3 in Extra Innings

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Philadelphia Phillies marked the beginning of their National League East title defense with a 7-3 victory over the Washington Nationals in their season opener Thursday at Nationals Park.

In a thrilling game that extended into extra innings, the Phillies took control in the 10th inning when Alec Bohm hit a tiebreaking two-run double. Bohm’s timely hit helped secure the win for Philadelphia after a fierce back-and-forth competition.

Phillies starting pitcher Aaron Nola executed a strong performance, tossing six innings while allowing only two hits and one run. The lone run came from a home run by Nationals’ shortstop CJ Abrams in the fifth inning, giving Washington a brief 1-0 lead.

Meanwhile, Nationals pitcher McKenzie Gore delivered an impressive performance, recording a career-high 13 strikeouts and not allowing a single hit through his six innings on the mound, a significant achievement on opening day.

However, the tide turned in the seventh inning as former Nationals players Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper hit back-to-back first-pitch homers, shifting the momentum in favor of the Phillies. Schwarber’s homer put Philadelphia in the lead 2-1, while the team extended it to 3-1 in the eighth.

Washington retaliated to tie the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the eighth, thanks to a pinch-hit single from Victor Robles.

Gabe Kapler, the Phillies manager, praised the resilience of his team. “It was great to see our guys respond like that, bouncing back after they tied it up,” Kapler said. “Alec’s double in the 10th was a huge moment.”

In the ninth inning, reliever Connor Brogdon (1-0) picked up the win for the Phillies, while National’s reliever Erasmo Ramirez (0-1) faced a tough inning and allowed Bohm’s decisive hit in the 10th.

Harper received a mixed reaction from the Washington crowd, which included boos during pregame introductions and at-bats. Harper managed to turn the tide in the seventh, tying the game with a towering shot that traveled 415 feet to center field.

Key statistics from the game include Gore’s 13 strikeouts, which surpasses the previous record for a Nationals pitcher on opening day, held by Max Scherzer in 2019.

Looking forward, the Phillies are set to feature a new pitcher as Jesús Luzardo, formerly of the Miami Marlins, makes his debut for Philadelphia on Saturday. The Nationals will counter with right-hander Patrick Corbin, who finished last season with a record of 10-14 and a 4.41 ERA.