Phillies Lose Home Opener to Nationals, 7-6: Five Observations
By John Town
Missed Opportunities
While I will give the Phillies credit for climbing back, that isn’t to say there weren’t more chances that they missed. In the fourth, Howie Kendrick doubled and Herrera singled to put runners on the corners with just one out. However, Maikel Franco struck out before Michael Saunders grounded into a fielder’s choice. Considering Philadelphia’s first baserunners didn’t come until the fourth, they weren’t sure there would be anymore with Scherzer dealing.
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In the seventh, even though Philadelphia scored three runs, they could have had one more in the inning. After Stassi and Tommy Joseph walked to start the inning, both tried to advance on a wild pitch. However, the ball bounced right back to Washington’s catcher, Wieters, who was able to throw out Stassi easily. Had that bounce gone another way, Stassi could have also scored on the Galvis double later in the inning.
Finally, in the ninth, after Galvis’ home run, energy was high. It was now-or-never time, but the rally died from there. Hernadez walked, but the Phils couldn’t do anything when all they needed was one run.
Had Philadelphia converted just one of these opportunities, they could have forced the game into extra innings, leaving the opportunity open to eventually win.