Surely it couldn’t happen three nights in a row. Surely the Washington Nationals’ bullpen couldn’t possibly blow the game in the ninth inning yet again.
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But it did. The bullpen was handed a 5-2 advantage Thursday night and tasked with covering three innings. It should have been a big enough advantage, but at this point, nothing is safe for that unit. A 5-2 game became 5-5 in the seventh inning, and the Phillies took the ninth inning and ran with it for the third day in a row as they beat the Nationals, 10-5.
“It hurts,” starter Cade Cavalli said. “I’m not going to sit here and say it doesn’t hurt.”
Tuesday’s loss, when the Nationals allowed eight runs in the ninth, was the most heartbreaking loss Manager Blake Butera said he had ever been a part of. On Wednesday, after the bullpen blew a 4-3 lead, they left the clubhouse confused, distraught and frustrated.
Thursday was all of the above, with an emotional toll of three consecutive blown games compounded on their shoulders.
“This —- sucks,” said Gus Varland, who gave up five runs in the ninth inning. “This just —- sucks.”
After the game, players and staff members lined up to give their hugs to a visibly upset Varland in the clubhouse. He was optioned to Class AAA Rochester after the game, but that’s only a small part of the bullpen dilemma.
“The guys in the bullpen, we feel for them,” Cavalli said. “There’s nobody that feels worst than them. We know that they’re trying as hard as they can.”
The offense and starters both did their jobs on Thursday, the offense putting up five runs against Cristopher Sánchez and Cavalli allowing just two runs in six innings. The challenge now is making sure the units that are playing well don’t try to do too much to make up for the deficits of the bullpen.
“Giving us a five-run lead against that type of pitcher, that quality, they did everything they could,” Butera said. “Cade Cavalli, who we gave the ball to on Opening Day, who’s our No. 1, who’s our horse, he did what No. 1’s do, and against this lineup. He pitched his ass off. I couldn’t be more proud of Cade Cavalli.”
The bullpen only needed to handle three innings.
Mitchell Parker, who has been the Nationals’ least reliable reliever this season, was handed the seventh inning. While he struck out Derek Hill, Wednesday’s hero for the Phillies, things quickly spiraled. Justin Crawford and Trea Turner hit singles, then Kyle Schwarber walked to load the bases.
Bryce Harper worked a full count, then walked to bring in a run. That would end Parker’s day. Clayton Beeter entered the game and immediately walked Brandon Marsh, sending in yet another easy run for the Phillies. Then, Alec Bohm grounded into a forceout as Schwarber scored, tying the game at 5.
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Varland got through the eighth inning without allowing any damage. But Butera stuck with him for the ninth — with Beeter already used, and Richard Lovelady down after pitching three nights in a row, there were no better options.
Schwarber opened the inning with a base hit, then Harper hit a home run to left field. That gave the Phillies a 7-5 lead, but they didn’t stop there. The Phillies added three more runs before Varland finally got the third out.
“Just didn’t throw strikes, didn’t execute,” Butera said.
The challenge for the Nationals is that it hasn’t been just one reliever. They don’t have a designated closer, not because they don’t want to name one, but because no candidate has emerged worthy of the role.
The bullpen is pitching scared, Butera admitted, and they aren’t going to win games that way.
“You gotta attack, you gotta throw strikes and if we’re afraid to do so, we’ll keep giving the next guy an opportunity until somebody steps up and shows they want the ball and they are ready to go attack,” he said.
With Varland optioned, the Nationals will be making a roster move before Friday’s series opener in Baltimore. But the options there are limited as well. There are four players on the 40-man roster who have pitched in a major league game this season are are eligible to be recalled, and none have an ERA under 5.79. They’ll consider using the arms they do have differently, Butera said.
“This is our group right now,” Butera said. “At the end of the day, we’re going to turn to the bullpen and whoever’s ready to pitch is going to get in there and get an opportunity to pitch.”
As the Phillies celebrated, Butera remained on the top step of the dugout, and a handful of players watched from the railing.
This was another winnable game. This was another chance for them to show they are capable of competing with a division opponent.
Instead, they fell to .500 (41-41) and won just one of four games this series.
“Tough, I don’t really know if there’s any other way to put it,” outfielder Jacob Young said. “It’s just something we have to move on from, take the good and learn from it and go from there.”
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