PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 29 - ​The Washington Nationals fell just short tonight in Philadelphia after a late comeback was blown in the ninth inning. A decent MacKenzie Gore start wasn't avenged until it was just too late.​

Gore took the mound for Washington and delivered a solid performance on the mound, pitching six innings and allowing three earned runs on five hits, with six strikeouts and no walks. He kept the Nationals within striking distance, but the bullpen got messy late. Jose A. Ferrer struggled in the eighth, giving up two runs on three hits, including an RBI double by Trea Turner and a wild pitch that allowed another run to score. Closer Kyle Finnegan couldn't hold the newfound lead in the ninth (in part due to poor defense), giving up a game-tying sacrifice fly to Johan Rojas and a walk-off wild pitch that brought Bryson Stott home, walking off a 7–6 loss for Washington.​

Offensively, the Nationals were quiet early but rallied late. Luis García Jr. got the offense going with a solo homer in the sixth, and CJ Abrams added an RBI double in the seventh. The Nats had the bases loaded in the eighth with zero outs but could not capitalize in a 3-2 game. In the ninth, James Wood's RBI double set the stage for Nathaniel Lowe's dramatic three-run homer, giving the Nationals a stunning 6–5 lead after being down to their last strike. Abrams had a standout game, going 4-for-5 with an RBI, while Lowe's clutch homer was the lone highlight in his 1-for-5 performance.​

This loss drops the Nationals to 13–17 on the season and 4–10 on the road, continuing their struggles out of town. The bullpen remains a concern, as late-game leads continue to be blown. Despite the offensive surge in the ninth, the inability to close out games is what is holding the team back.

Up next…

The Nationals will aim to bounce back in the second game of the series against the Phillies. Improving bullpen performance and capitalizing on offensive opportunities will be key as they strive to turn close losses into wins and climb the division rankings. They sit in fourth place now before Jake Irvin takes the bump tomorrow.