Jhoan Duran blew his first save as a Phillie Friday. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Bill Streicher
Jhoan Duran proved mortal for the first time since joining the Phillies Friday, as his blown save cost the Phillies in a 5-4 series-opening loss to the Washington Nationals.
Washington scored three runs off Taijuan Walker during a 38-pitch first inning, with a Riley Adams home run the big blow:
Riley Adams gets the party started for the @Nationals with a 3-run tank 💪 pic.twitter.com/0N12jmyJyW
However, Walker settled in after the first inning and ultimately allowed just three hits and the three runs over five innings. He struck out five, walked three and picked off a pair of runners at first base.
Meanwhile, the Phillies got on the board against Washington starter Cade Cavalli in the bottom of the second inning when Trea Turner plated Nick Castellanos on an RBI fielder's choice.
Castellanos was again at the forefront of the action in the bottom of the sixth inning. Castellanos legged out a double with one out, and then two batters later, Bryson Stott hit a game-tying two-run home run:
Bryson Stott has tied the game! 💣
(Via @BarnHasSpoken2)
pic.twitter.com/l4ZEEM2Y4c
It was a much-needed strong performance for Castellanos, who entered the game hitting .187 with a .534 OPS. Castellanos has seen his playing time cut into, as he wasn't in the starting lineup for two of the previous five games.
Someone who has been in a rhythm is J.T. Realmuto, who was hitting .310 since the All-Star Break coming into the night. The 34-year-old continued his renaissance with a go-ahead solo shot off of Shinnosuke Ogasawara in the bottom of the seventh inning:
Prime J.T. Realmuto has returned in August 💪
pic.twitter.com/FIhKpZuwB1
But while Matt Strahm pitched a clean eighth inning, Duran slipped up for the first time since being acquired from the Minnesota Twins last month. Duran entered the game with a 4-3 lead, but coughed it up when Daylen Lile drove in Dylan Crews with a one-out single. Lile would later attempt to steal third base, leading to an errant Realmuto throw into the outfield that allowed him to come around and score to give the Nationals the lead:
DAY light SAVINGS pic.twitter.com/BUKJXiDlTO
PJ Poulin set down Stott, Turner and Kyle Schwarber in order in the bottom of the ninth inning to save the game for the Nationals, snapping the four-game winning streak for the Phillies and dropping their record to 74-54.
The Nationals and Phillies will continue their weekend series Saturday evening at 6:05 ET with Mitchell Parker set to square off with Aaron Nola.