WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 02: Andrew McCutchen #22, Bryce Harper #3 and Odubel Herrera #37 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrate after a 7-6 victory against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on September 02, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
They were being shut out and trailed by six runs going into the sixth inning, when they promptly put up three runs and then another four in the eighth to win 7-6. In doing so, they completed a three-game sweep of the Nationals after taking three of four from the Diamondbacks over the weekend.
The Phillies are now 1.5 games out of first and have an 11-game win streak against division-rival teams and weekend plans with the Miami Marlins.
There were quite a few memorable moments from this series, but what you might not know is that they made history in a variety of ways, both as a team and on an individual level.
The Phillies set an MLB record by winning their seventh game against the Nationals in which they trailed by three or more runs
From my friends at @StatsBySTATS
The #Phillies have now won 7 games against the #Nationals this year in which they once trailed by at least 3 runs.
How many other teams in the modern era have ever won 7+ games like that vs. any team?
This one is kind of embarrassing for everyone involved, but a record is a record. It’s definitely the most Phillies way to set an MLB record.
On the one hand, it’s not great that the Phillies fell behind by six runs in another terrible start for Aaron Nola, who has only managed one scoreless start since June 25. Nor is it good that they couldn’t score a single run in the first five innings against Paolo Espino, who had a 4.13 ERA this season coming into Thursday’s start, and had never thrown more than 24 innings in a season before this year.
On the other hand, the Washington Nationals are having a terrible season. They’re 55-77, 15 games out of first, and were big-time sellers at the deadline. They sent Max Scherzer and Trea Turner to the Dodgers, and in doing so, helped them regain first place in the NL West for the first time since April. As the Nationals are operating with what is essentially a skeleton crew and Juan Soto, beating them isn’t exactly a postseason-caliber feat, but as I said, a record is a record.
Thus concludes the season series against the Nats, and the Phillies took it 13-6.
Sep 2, 2021; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Philadelphia Phillies left fielder Andrew McCutchen (22) hits a three RBI double against the Washington Nationals during the sixth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Scott Taetsch-USA TODAY Sports /
Andrew McCutchen’s RBI count against the Nationals is historic
Again, the Nationals are not a great team this year, so take this stat with a grain of salt.
But hapless opponent aside, who doesn’t love a Cutch moment?
In the sixth inning, with the Phillies scoreless and trailing by six, McCutchen stepped up to the plate with one out and the bases loaded. He promptly cleared them.
This is McCutchen’s first 20+ homer season since 2018, though part of that is due to the ACL tear that ended his 2019 season, and a shortened 2020 season in which he hit 10 home runs in 57 games.
He also has more 4-RBI games (4) than anyone on his team, and is one of only 23 MLB players with four or more of such games.
But when you’re in the same conversation as Mike Schmidt and Ryan Howard, you’re doing something right. (Or the Nats are doing something wrong.)
The Phillies have been on a much-needed offensive tear over the last week.
According to NBC Sports Philly, this is the first time they’ve scored seven or more runs in seven consecutive games since 1933. They’ve scored seven or more in eight of their last ten games, and have won all but one of those eight games.
This was their 30th game of the season in which they scored seven or more runs.
While the offensive power is impressive, it’s also necessary. Bryce Harper and his teammates have had to outslug their opponents because their pitching is shakier than a palm tree in the wind.
Aaron Nola gave up all six of the Nationals’ runs in what has turned out to be an unpalatable season. Only Kyle Gibson and Zack Wheeler have sub-4 ERAs. Chase Anderson found his way to the Rangers after being released by the Phillies, and Zach Eflin and Vince Velasquez are on the IL.
The Phillies haven’t done this since their last division title season
As the Phillies try to return to the postseason for the first time since their 2011 division title, it’s encouraging to see them doing things that helped them get there back in the day.
This is the first time the Phillies have back to win after a 6-run deficit, on the road, since 8/10/2011 vs the Dodgers.
While they’ll need to beat teams far tougher than the Nationals if they want to reach October for the first time in a decade, every win counts, especially in September. The Phillies remaining opponents include the Milwaukee Brewers and Atlanta Braves, two scrappy first-place teams.
But as this stat and the first stat we discussed indicate, this team has more than earned their Fightins nickname.
