PHILADELPHIA - Monday night was an eventful one in all the wrong ways for the Philadelphia Phillies. Manager Rob Thomson was ejected in the top of the first inning after he thought his starter would only face seven hitters in the frame - he ended up facing 10. Taijuan Walker allowed runs in each of the first three innings, but had to stay in and eat it when it wasn’t his night. Nationals hitters did what Thomson asks of his guys - they didn’t try to do too much. On the flip side, Phillies hitters continued to experience their early season woes.
On the flip side, Phillies hitters continued to experience their early season woes. The 13-2 final led to utility man Dylan Moore making an appearance on the mound in just his second appearance with his new club.
The energy was gone before the Phillies stepped up to bat - the game seemingly over before it even started.
Taijuan Walker just didn’t have his best stuff, and it was obvious right away. Despite that, Nationals hitters weren’t able to square him up with any regularity. That didn’t matter tonight, as he had to wear it through 99 pitches over 4.2 frames.
Walker regularly caught too much of the plate. He didn’t have many deep counts early, because almost everything he threw was within reach. He only got ahead 0-2 one time. Washington hitters did a great job of just putting bat on ball and seeing what would happen, and plenty happened.
Mental mistakes, actual fielding errors, and plenty of soft-hit balls finding holes combined for a seven run implosion from Walker - including four in the first inning. His manager was ejected before the top of the opening frame would come to an end, arguing a decision made by result of a replay. The sure-gloved Edmundo Sosa made an error and some mental mistakes or what turned out to be poor decisions in hindsight. Trea Turner dropped what would’ve been a sure out on a relay from the aforementioned Sosa, as well.
Walker allowed 10 hits, walked three, and only struck out two, but this was hardly an outing reminiscent of his disastrous 2024 season. Of those 10 hits, only one had an exit velocity higher than 92 miles-per-hour, and it came in his last inning on the mound. The average exit velo on any ball the Nats put in play against Taijuan was only 82.83 MPH. He was hardly getting crushed, but it was like death by a thousand cuts.
He made his way through 4.2 despite surrendering all seven runs he allowed in the first three innings. The Phillies offense never gave him much support.
Nationals starter, Foster Griffin, kept Phillies hitters off balance throughout his five frames, and his bullpen picked up where he left off.
Combined, they started Phillies hitters with an 0-2 count nine times (CHECK THIS) - three more times than their pitchers did to the Nationals (Walker only got ahead 0-2 once). The Nats threw a first pitch strike to 21 of 30 hitters faced, and only surrendered one walk while striking out eight.
The most noise they made was when Brandon Marsh tallied a two-out bloop base hit in the fifth before Rafael Marchán clubbed a two-run homer for the team’s only runs. Philly would threaten with two more runners before the end of the inning, but Bryce Harper grounded out after crushing a ball foul to end the inning.
Philly’s big three at the top of the order continued to flounder. They are now a combined 6-for-47 to start the year with 17 strikeouts to just four walks and two ground-into-double-plays.
Rob Thomson spoke after the game about what he wanted to get clarification on after the review resulted in him being ejected for the first time this season.
He told reporters that New York makes the decision on where the runnres are placed. He knew he would get tossed, but was frustrated by the lack of explanation.
"I don't get an explanation.," the manager explained. "But my view on that is - the 3rd base coach is waiving him. He doesn't stop til he gets about halfway or three-quarters of the way by that advertising on the third baseline, and then he ends up going past the advertising, so there was clearly intent to score."
Thomson felt that Walker did the right thing because he wants his guys, and umpires have explained, that they should keep playing when the result of a play is unsure. He wondered aloud what would have been the result had they not thrown home and the runner continued across the plate. We will likely never have that answer.
Brandon Marsh continued his hot start to the season with two more hits and a walk. He is now 5-for-13 with two walks and three strikeouts in the early going, including a hit against today's left-handed starter. "He's being aggressive," Thomson told me when asked what he likes about Marsh's approach so far. "He's staying in the middle of the field for the most part. Yeah, he's had pretty good at-bats."
Tim Mayza was the only actual pitched the Phillies sent to the mound who left the game unscathed. A nice impression from a guy who may have only made the initial big league roster because he triggered an opt-out in his contract. Mayza pitched two strong innings to steady the day, striking out two and not allowing a single base runner. Someone to watch in a bullpen filled with new faces.
