Aug 23, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola (27) delivers a pitch against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images Gregory Fisher
With Zack Wheeler officially out for the season, the Phillies need a right-handed pitcher in their rotation to emerge, or else they might have to use three consecutive lefties — Cristopher Sánchez, Ranger Suárez and Jesús Luzardo — to open playoff series. It's not yet time to anoint Aaron Nola the Game 2 starter, but he definitely took a major step in the right direction in Saturday's 6-4 win over the Washington Nationals.
After the first three-and-a-half innings were scoreless, the red-hot J.T. Realmuto plated Bryce Harper from first base with an RBI double off of Mitchell Parker:
Nothing can stop J.T. Realmuto right now!
(Via @aokstott)
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Alec Bohm then traded places with Realmuto, doubling him in to increase the lead to 2-0:
Alec Bohm extends the lead! 🦒
(Via @aokstott)
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Following a Harrison Bader single into left field, Edmundo Sosa delivered the big blow of the inning, crushing a three-run home run. Sosa seemed even more hyped than usual while rounding the bases, as he kept smacking his helmet in a manner similar to Saquon Barkley during his breakaway run against the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Divisional Round earlier this year:
Edmundo Sosa absolutely crushed this offering 💥
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Edmundo Sosa was extra hyped after his three-run bomb 💣
(Via @aokstott)
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Nola wasn't able to get a shutdown inning in the top of the fifth inning after getting some insurance, but that wasn't necessarily his fault. After Dylan Crews led off the inning with a swinging bunt, Drew Millas grounded the ball to Weston Wilson at first base. Wilson tried to throw the ball to second base, but it hit off of Crews' right wrist and ricocheted into the outfield, allowing each runner to take an extra base:
oh someone help him pic.twitter.com/biaDnO0prr
Crews would ultimately score on a fielder's choice by Brady House, but Nola limited the damage to just one run in the frame.
The Phillies immediately got that run back in the home half of the fifth on a solo shot by Trea Turner. It was Turner's second home run during this homestand, after he had previously gone the whole season without hitting a home run at Citizens Bank Park:
🎶🎶It’s still Trea Day🎶🎶
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CJ Abrams and Luis García Jr. both hit solo home runs off of Nola in the top of the sixth inning, but the longest-tenured Phillie was still able to work his way through the frame. He finished the night with six strikeouts, one walk, five hits and three runs, two of which were earned, over six innings. It maybe wasn't vintage Nola, but it was still a positive night considering he entered the evening with 6.92 ERA over his first 10 outs of the season. Perhaps most encouraging was that his fastball sat between 92 and 94 mph this evening, a bump up from the 91.4 mph he's averaged this season.
Matt Strahm did allow García to cut into the lead with an RBI double that scored James Wood in the top of the eighth inning, but Orion Kerkering and Jhoan Duran ultimately combined to close out the victory.
With the win, the Phillies improve to 75-54. They are the second team in the National League to reach 75 wins, although the Milwaukee Brewers are a ways ahead thanks to a torrid month of August that had them at 81 victories entering play Saturday. Nonetheless, the Phillies currently have a leg up for the No. 2 seed in the senior circuit, which comes with a first-round bye in the postseason.
Ranger Suárez will take the ball Sunday afternoon as the Phillies look to earn a series victory against Jake Irvin and the Nationals.
