The Phillies needed extra innings but delivered when it mattered most, walking off the Washington Nationals 6-5 in 10 innings at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday night. Bryce Harper and J.T. Realmuto provided the power while rookie Justin Crawford collected three hits in a thrilling spring training contest that showcased both offensive firepower and bullpen depth.
Crawford Leads Offensive Charge
Justin Crawford continues to make his case for a roster spot, going 3-for-5 with an RBI in his most impressive performance of spring training. The rookie outfielder has been consistently finding the barrel, and nights like this are exactly what the Phillies front office wants to see as they evaluate their outfield options.
Harper launched his first home run of the spring, going 1-for-5 with an RBI, while Realmuto showed his veteran presence with a 2-for-3 performance that included a solo shot. Adolis García added two hits in four at-bats, continuing to settle into his new surroundings after joining the Phillies.
Sánchez Strong Through Five-Plus
Cristopher Sánchez looked sharp in his longest outing of spring training, working 5.1 innings while striking out seven and allowing just one earned run on four hits. The left-hander did issue four walks, which remains his biggest area for improvement, but his stuff was crisp and his command improved as the game progressed.
The bullpen had its ups and downs after Sánchez departed. Jonathan Bowlan surrendered a run in two-thirds of an inning, and Brad Keller struggled mightily, giving up three earned runs in just one inning of work. However, the late-inning crew stepped up when needed.
Extra-Inning Drama
The turning point came in the seventh inning when CJ Abrams launched a three-run homer for Washington, temporarily swinging momentum toward the visitors. The blast highlighted how quickly spring training games can change, especially when both teams are mixing veterans with prospects fighting for roster spots.
But this Phillies team showed the kind of resilience they'll need in the regular season. After Washington pushed across runs late, Philadelphia's offense answered back to force extra innings.
Zach Pop and José Alvarado each threw scoreless frames to keep the game tied, with Pop looking particularly sharp in his one inning of work. Jhoan Duran earned the win with a perfect 10th inning, striking out one and showing the kind of stuff that could make him a valuable bullpen piece.
Nationals Show Fight
Washington didn't make it easy, collecting 10 hits behind strong performances from Brady House (2-for-4), Daylen Lile (2-for-5), and Joey Wiemer (2-for-4). Cade Cavalli gave the Nationals quality length, working six innings and allowing just one earned run while striking out three.
The Nationals' bullpen imploded late, however. PJ Poulin couldn't record an out in the 10th inning, walking two batters before giving way to Cole Henry, who took the loss after allowing three hits and a walk in just one-third of an inning.
What's Next
The Phillies continue their spring schedule with confidence building from performances like Crawford's breakout night and the bullpen's ability to bounce back from adversity. While it's still March, these kinds of wins in close games help establish the culture and chemistry that will be crucial once the regular season begins.
For Washington, the loss stings but showed they can compete with a Phillies team expected to contend in the NL East. Both teams will take valuable lessons from this extra-inning thriller as they continue fine-tuning their rosters for Opening Day.