Suzuki three-run homer leads Nationals to overtook Phillies

Kurt Suzuki hit a pinch-hit, three-run homer in the eighth inning off Adam Morgan and Victor Robles followed with a solo shot off the lefty as the injury-plagued Washington Nationals battled back to beat the Philadelphia Phillies 10-8 Saturday in a wild contest. The Nationals made three errors but won for just the fifth time in 15 games. Washington lost first baseman Matt Adams (jammed left shoulder) and centre fielder Michael A. Taylor (hand) to injuries.

Morgan entered the game having not allowed a run and just five hits in 16 outings this season. Yan Gomes had a run-scoring single in the ninth to give Washington a 10-8 lead, and closer Sean Doolittle pitched around a single and a walk in the bottom of the inning for his fifth save as boos rained down from the home crowd. He got Odubel Herrera for the last out on a foul pop to third.

Jean Segura had three hits and J.T. Realmuto drove in three runs for the Phillies, who had scored five in the seventh lead 8-5. Rhys Hoskins had an RBI double, Realmuto had a two-run double, and Sean Rodriguez and Phil Gosselin had run-scoring doubles in the inning. The Nationals grabbed a 5-3 lead with two runs in the top of the seventh when reliever Juan Nicasio had a throwing error on a bunt.

The Nationals got off to a strong start after losing a series opener for the 10th time in 11 games Friday. Adam Eaton scored in the first on a double-play grounder for a 1-0 lead against Phillies starter Jake Arrieta. The Phillies tied the game off Patrick Corbin in the last of the first on a sacrifice fly by Realmuto. Segura had an RBI double to give the Phillies a 2-1 advantage in the second.

Washington came back to tie it in the third as Brian Dozier hit a solo homer, his fifth home run of the season, just fair to left. Andrew McCutchen of the Phillies had RBI single in the fourth for a 3-2 lead. Eaton had a sacrifice fly in the fifth to tie the game at 3-3.

Corbin threw a career-high 118 pitches and allowed three runs on six hits in six innings. He walked three and struck out six. Arrieta gave up three runs (two earned) in six innings. He walked one and struck out seven.

The winning pitcher was Tony Sipp (1-1), who got the last two outs in the seventh, while Morgan (1-1) was tagged with the loss. Both teams made a move before the game. The Phillies brought Herrera off the injured kist and designated outfielder Aaron Altherr for assignment. The Nationals put outfielder Juan Soto on the injured list with back spasms and called up outfielder Andrew Stevenson from Triple-A Fresno.

(With inputs from agencies.)