Phillies blank Nationals, 5-0 for first win after trade deadline

Article by Bryan Portney

PHILADELPHIA – The Phillies kicked off the post-deadline portion of the season to the tune of 11 hits en route to a 5-0 victory over the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night.

All eyes were on the changes in the field to accommodate for former San Francisco Giants’ second baseman Luis Arraez, whom the Phillies acquired on Monday night as part of the trade deadline.

The Citizens Bank Park faithful greeted Arraez with a standing ovation ahead of his first at-bat in the bottom of the first, which saw the National League batting average leader in a spot he’s known all too well with runners at first and second.

Arraez ripped a single up the middle to bring in Phillies’ shortstop Trea Turner, who had the game’s first hit on a single in the same direction, to give the squad a 1-0 lead.

While Arraez and the Phillies’ offense were able to notch four runs on seven hits through three, it was left-handed pitcher Jesús Luzardo who was able to hold things down on the mound early and often.

Luzardo struck out two Nationals batters in a row to end the opening frame of the game, but even after allowing baserunners he got out of jams with ease.

After allowing a leadoff double to Nationals’ designated hitter C.J. Abrams in the top of the second, Luzardo was able to trust the defense behind him with three straight outs in the field.

A four-pitch walk to Nationals’ shortstop Nasim Nuñez to lead off the top of the third was quelled by Luzardo throwing him out at third followed up by back-to-back groundouts to Turner at short.

The defense looked to be a point of contention after the Arraez trade, as Alec Bohm moved from third to first and Bryson Stott moved from second to third.

Bryce Harper also moved to right field as part of the changes to the defense, making his first start there since 2022 to the tune of a standing ovation as well.

Overall, the Phillies kept the infield and outfield clean by not committing a single error. Harper did not have to run far for his five catches in right, which helped the adjustment stay smooth.

The Phillies enjoyed Luzardo being able to pitch for eight innings, which was his longest outing of the season, as he recorded seven strikeouts in the process.

The offense put the dagger in the game early to help Luzardo stay in for longer thanks to a three-run frame in the bottom of the third.

Turner beat the tag at first for a leadoff infield single before Harper took a four-pitch walk.

Arraez found himself in the same favorable spot and delivered his second RBI of the game on a double into right field. He took multiple foul balls en route to a full-count hitting approach that paid off.

Bohm followed up the double from Arraez with a sac fly into center, and the scoring of the frame was then capped off by a Brandon Marsh double down the right field corner to make it a 4-0 lead.

Turner was able to hit to all fields tonight, as he lined a single into right to drive in the final run for the Phillies in the bottom of the seventh.

Former Chicago Cubs’ right-handed pitcher Caleb Kilian, who was also acquired at the trade deadline, made his first appearance in a Phillies uniform to the tune of back-to-back ABS-related strikeouts to put the punctuation mark on the 5-0 win.

It was the third shutout win for the Phillies in the last four games as the squad extended their win streak to four.