Vince Velasquez slid into third base on Tuesday night and the cast of Washington infielders immediately began pointing to second base.
The Phillies thought they had the tying run just 90 feet away. But the Nationals believed the final out was to be had at second base. They were right, and a 5-4 loss was finalized when Wilmer Difo stepped on it. Velasquez, in the game as a pinch runner in the ninth inning, had left second base too early on a fly out to center by Jorge Alfaro. This was a new way to lose.
The Phillies have lost eight of their last 10 games.