WASHINGTON — It was three outs from being the Phillies’ most inspiring victory so far this season.
Instead, it turned into a demoralizing defeat.
After having survived 15 strikeouts against Washington Nationals ace Max Scherzer and rope-a-doping the two-time defending Cy Young Award winner into a seventh-inning exit, the Phillies’ bullpen blew up on Sunday. Luis Garcia, Tommy Hunter and closer Hector Neris combined to allow four runs over the final two innings in a 5-4 gut-punch before an announced crowd of 30,611 at Nationals Park.
Say goodbye to the prospect of a .500 record on the six-game road trip after dropping the first two games in Miami.