Apr 7, 2019; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Bryce Harper (3) celebrates win against the Minnesota Twins at Citizens Bank Park. Photo Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
After splitting two games last week in the nation’s capital, the Washington Nationals open a three-game series with the National League East-leading Philadelphia Phillies on Monday night at Citizens Bank Park.
There won’t be quite the national fanfare surrounding Round 2 of this series as there was when Bryce Harper, who left the Nationals to sign a record 13-year, 330-million contract with division-rival Phillies, made his much-anticipated return to Nationals Park in the season’s opening week.
Harper was the object of boos and traitor T-shirts in D.C. He responded by going 5-for-7, including a 458-foot home run, walking three times, scoring twice and driving in three runs. Philadelphia won the first game 8-2, but Washington rallied for a 9-8 victory in the second as reliever David Robertson walked in the winning run.
“I have the city of Philadelphia behind me each and every night,” Harper said of the cool reception he received last week. “If I have that, nothing else matters to me.”
Both teams come in after taking two out of three in their respective weekend series. The Nationals enter off a 12-9 victory over the Mets in New York on Sunday while the Phillies edged the visiting Minnesota Twins, 2-1.
Philadelphia has either won or tied its first three series for the first time since 2011.
“I think it’s important to get the series win,” Philadelphia manager Gabe Kapler said. “We look at every win as being especially important. … It certainly feels good to get out of here with two out of three.”
Philadelphia won Sunday’s rubber game with Minnesota despite finishing with just four hits. Rhys Hoskins continued his hot start with what proved to be a game-winning two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth off Jose Berrios. Zach Eflin improved to 2-0 with seven strong innings, yielding only six hits, including a leadoff homer to Max Kepler to begin the game.
“I think today it felt like it was only a matter of time before somebody was going to get the big hit,” Hoskins said.
Hoskins is batting .433 with five homers, 15 RBIs and 10 walks in his last 10 games at Citizens Bank Park.
Washington, which took a 12-1 lead into the bottom of the seventh, had to summon closer Sean Doolittle to get the final two outs in Sunday’s win over the Mets after the rest of the bullpen gave up five earned runs in just two innings. Anthony Rendon hit a three-run home run and scored three runs to lead the offense for the Nationals.
“We’re just trying win every series, win two out of three, win two of two, whatever it is,” said Rendon, who is hitting .433 with four homers and nine RBIs. “We try to win series.”
Anibal Sanchez (0-0, 9.00 ERA) will start Monday night’s opener for Washington and will be opposed by Vince Velasquez, who will be making his first start of the season for Philadelphia. Velasquez, who went 9-12 with a 4.85 ERA last season, pitched a scoreless inning of relief in the Phillies’ 8-2 win over the Nats last Tuesday, striking out two.
“He’s had some really good side sessions recently and he’s worked really hard with (pitching coach Curt Young),” Kapler said. “(Young) has put in a lot of work with him. I feel like he’s going to come out confidently.”
