Aug 14, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Jesœs Luzardo (44) pitches against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images Geoff Burke
Jesús Luzardo cruised for much of the night, but a brutal seventh inning from the lefty and a continued lack of run production doomed the Phillies in a 3-2 loss Thursday against the Washington Nationals.
Bryce Harper got the scoring started in the top of the third inning when his fielder's choice off of Brad Lord scored Bryson Stott:
Bryce Harper gets the Phillies on the board with an RBI fielder’s choice!
(Via @aokstott)
pic.twitter.com/2dqVpJZdZx
Veteran shortstop Paul DeJong tied the game in the home half of the fourth inning with a solo shot off of Luzardo.
In the top of the fifth inning, Kyle Schwarber narrowly missed his 43rd home run, instead having to settle for an RBI double that scored Trea Turner from first base:
Kyle Schwarber’s RBI double allows the Phillies to retake the lead!
(@aokstott)
pic.twitter.com/UJKDFS9nPF
Turner, who had reached on an infield single, didn't appear to be at full strength when running around the bases. But while the TV cameras showed him talking to head athletic trainer Paul Buchheit in the dugout, Turner remained in the game. In fact, he added another infield hit — his third of the day — in the bottom of the sixth:
Trea Turner now has three infield hits today. 💨
(Via @aokstott)
pic.twitter.com/lG2RdqPvi4
Luzardo was excellent through the first six innings, limiting the Nationals to just one run. Unfortunately for the Phillies, Rob Thomson tried to squeeze an extra inning out of the lefty, and it didn't go well. Sandwiched around a Riley Adams double were a pair of walks that sent Luzardo to the showers with the bases loaded and no one out.
Orion Kerkering entered the game in about as unenviable a situation as possible. All things considered, Kerkering did a pretty good job, including working back from a 3-0 count to strike out James Wood with a dotted pitch to end the inning. But José Tena did single off of Kerkering before that, allowing two inherited runs to score and the Nationals to take a 3-2 lead they wouldn't relinquish.
Considering none of Kerkering, Jhoan Duran, Matt Strahm or David Robertson pitched in Wednesday's loss to the Reds, it was surprising to see Thomson not be more aggressive with the bullpen in the seventh inning. But he was likely trying to steal an extra inning from Luzardo because the Phillies are in the middle of a stretch of 13 games in 13 days. They won't have an off day until next Thursday. You can't manage every night like it's a postseason game in a stretch like that. That's not to excuse the decision of Thomson to bring Luzardo back out for the seventh — or not to have a quicker hook when things went south — but that was likely the thinking.
David Robertson had an encouraging appearance in the bottom of the eighth inning, striking out two during a scoreless frame. But the Phillies weren't able to capitalize on a leadoff single by Max Kepler in the top of the ninth inning, with Edmundo Sosa curiously dropping down a sacrifice bunt with no outs to move Kepler to second base. Kepler was ultimately stranded on third base when Cole Henry struck out Turner to end the game.
With the loss, the Phillies fall to 69-52, having lost three straight following a four-game losing streak. They will send Zack Wheeler to the mound Friday looking for their ace to be a stopper.
