On Monday night, Aaron Nola took the mound for the Philadelphia Phillies as the Washington Nationals came to Citizens Bank Park to start a four-game set. Nola fell into an early deficit on Washington first baseman Abimelec Ortiz’s first career home run in just his second major league game. 

The home run bug bit Nola again in the second inning. This time, Nationals left fielder Daylen Lile tagged him with a two-run shot, giving the Nationals an early three-run lead.

Nola locked in from that point. He would not surrender another run while scattering three hits and two walks, making it through six innings. That’s a quality start. 

The Phillies still found themselves down 3-0. On the upside, they were facing the Washington Nationals: A team that’s blown 27 saves in 2026.  Their starter, Andrew Alvarez, kept the Phillies at bay for 6 1/3 innings. After he recorded the first out of the seventh, things began to unwind. 

He hit Bryan De La Cruz and walked Brsyon Stott. That ended his night as lefty Tom Cosgrove entered the game. He immediately walked Edmundo Sosa to load the bases. 

Now, let me take you back to the last series in which the Phillies faced the Nationals. In the last three games of the series, the Phillies came back late to win all three games against the Nats bullpen. Derek Hill, in particular, hit two homers in two separate ninth innings. 

Well, wouldn’t you know it, Derek Hill came to the plate in the seventh inning of Monday’s game. He delivered in grand fashion. Hill drove a grand slam to center field, giving the Phillies their first lead of the game. As he came back out to the field for the eighth, fans in the outfield chanted “De-rek Hill”.  He responded by immediately making a tumbling catch to rob extra bases. Hill looked like the greatest player in Phillies’ history in those moments.

“Thank God for Derek Hill,” said Phillies Manager Don Mattingly postgame. 

The Phillies offense kept tacking on against the Nats bullpen. Kyle Schwarber started the eighth with a single. After being pinch-run for by Justin Crawford, Bryce Harper hit a majestic homer to center field, giving the Phillies a 6-3 lead. 

That put the Nationals at the mercy of All-Star closer Jhoan Duran. He recorded the first two outs and then hit Brady House on the elbow. On an unrelated note, Bryan De La Cruz was hit twice in the game in back-to-back innings.

A 101.8 MPH fastball was overturned after a Garrett Stubbs challenge for strike three to end the game. The Phillies now find themselves on a three-game win streak. 

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