Phillies rally past Nationals in ninth-inning surge

The Philadelphia Phillies overcame a significant late-game deficit to defeat the Washington Nationals 14-9 on Tuesday night, securing the victory through a dramatic eight-run rally in the top of the ninth inning. Trailing 8-6 after the eighth inning, Philadelphia mounted a rapid offensive response that ultimately decided the contest.

The momentum shifted with two outs in the ninth when Brandon Marsh hit a tying two-run home run off Nationals reliever Brad Lord. Marsh’s shot to right field levelled the score, setting the stage for Bryson Stott, who followed with a towering 403-foot three-run homer to right field after singles by Bryce Harper and pinch-hitter Derek Hill.

Edmundo Sosa extended the lead with a two-run double, and Trea Turner added an RBI single to complete the eight-run outburst. Sosa, playing in place of MLB home run leader Kyle Schwarber, drove in five runs in total. Stott finished with three hits and four runs scored, while Marsh ended a triple short of the cycle.

Orion Kerkering earned the victory for Philadelphia despite allowing three runs in one inning of relief work. The win improved Kerkering’s record to 4-0. Washington’s Luis Garcia Jr. hit a home run in the bottom of the ninth, but the run was insufficient to alter the final outcome.

The game featured a back-and-forth scoring battle earlier in the evening. J.T. Realmuto had given the Phillies a 6-5 lead with a three-run double in the top of the eighth, but Jorbit Vivas answered with a three-run homer for Washington in the bottom half. Phillies starter Jesús Luzardo pitched 6 2/3 innings, matching his career high with 13 strikeouts while allowing five runs.

Washington bulk reliever Zack Littell allowed two runs on five hits over four innings. The Nationals initially took a 5-0 lead in the fourth inning on two-out, two-run singles from Nasim Nuñez and José Tena. Philadelphia’s Aaron Nola is scheduled to oppose Washington’s Miles Mikolas in the third game of the four-game series.